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The Arizona Diamondbacks’ Opening Day lineup is set ahead of Thursday’s game against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Leading off for Arizona is second baseman Ketel Marte, followed by right fielder Corbin Carroll and shortstop Geraldo Perdomo.
For Carroll, being in the lineup is a major positive after suffering a broken hamate bone as spring training began.
Batting cleanup for Arizona is catcher Gabriel Moreno, with designated hitter Pavin Smith and new addition Nolan Arenado next up.
First baseman Carlos Santana and outfielders Alek Thomas (center) and Jordan Lawlar (left) round out the batting order.
Taking the mound for Arizona is starter Zac Gallen, who was given the nod with original Opening Day starter Merrill Kelly dealing left intercostal nerve irritation.
Kelly was placed on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday.
1. Ketel Marte (2B)
2. Corbin Carroll (RF)
3. Geraldo Perdomo (SS)
4. Gabriel Moreno (C)
5. Pavin Smith (DH)
6. Nolan Arenado (3B)
7. Carlos Santana (1B)
8. Alek Thomas (CF)
9. Jordan Lawlar (LF)
P: Zac Gallen
The Diamondbacks take on the Dodgers at 5:30 p.m. MST. Catch all the action on the Arizona Sports app, 98.7 and ArizonaSports.com.
NFL.com’s Charles Davis tossed the proverbial grenade and walked away when it came to the Arizona Cardinals’ No. 3 overall pick in his mock draft published Thursday.
Instead of linking Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. or Francis Mauigoa to Arizona’s first-round pick — some of the prospects being heavily connected to Arizona’s top pick — Davis chose chaos with Alabama’s Ty Simpson heading the Cardinals’ way, albeit with a caveat.
Last year, I opined in one of my early mocks that Jaxson Dart would go to the Giants with the third overall pick, but I didn’t stick with the pairing as the process unfolded. Dart, of course, ultimately ended up with New York after Big Blue traded back into the first round and selected the quarterback at No. 25. This year, I think Simpson ends up with the Cardinals, even if this is not the spot where they pick him.
Simpson marks the third prospect Davis has linked to the Cardinals’ No. 3 pick this offseason. In his first two mock drafts, he had Mauigoa and Notre Dame running back Jeremiyah Love, respectively, heading to Arizona.
There is no denying Simpson and the Cardinals have been linked to one another this draft cycle. Just not so much at No. 3.
Instead, the quarterback has been a late first-round target for the franchise. A big piece of those trades includes the No. 34 overall pick the Cardinals have in the second round.
ESPN analyst Field Yates’ latest mock draft has the Cardinals moving Nos. 34 and 65, plus a 2027 third-round pick in exchange for the No. 26 overall pick from the Buffalo Bills.
But will Simpson still be there, especially after all the chatter he’s received this week from ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky and others?
Even before his name was reinjected into national sports shows, Mel Kiper Jr.’s recent mock draft for ESPN had Simpson landing as high as No. 16 to the New York Jets.
As for the prospects that have been heavily linked to the Cardinals’ No. 3 overall pick in Davis’ mock draft?
Reese ended up with the Jets at No. 2. Bailey went to the Tennessee Titans at No. 4. Bain fell to the Kansas City Chiefs at No. 9, while Mauigoa found a new home with the Los Angeles Rams at No. 13.
Fantasy Baseball Opening Day is finally here… sort of.
The 2026 MLB season kicks off with a single-game teaser before the full slate arrives, and while the format leaves something to be desired, the fantasy baseball implications are already in motion. From injury updates to bold predictions and “my guys” lists, there’s plenty to unpack before fantasy baseball lineups lock across the industry.
Let’s break down the biggest takeaways from the FantasyPros “Leading Off” episode and what they mean for your fantasy squads right now.
There’s no way around it. A one-game Opening Day doesn’t hit the same. The energy of wall-to-wall baseball is missing, and for fantasy players, that means fewer immediate data points and a slower ramp-up.
Still, the season has technically begun, and that’s enough to shift into in-season mode. Waiver wires, lineup decisions, and streaming strategies all start now.
The biggest headline: Gerrit Cole is officially on the IL to start the year.
There’s optimism he could return in May, making him a prime stash candidate if your league has IL flexibility. The advice here is simple: grab him, sit him for a few starts upon return, then deploy once he’s fully stretched out.
Meanwhile, Carlos Rodon is also sidelined, further muddying the Yankees rotation outlook early in the season.
Welsh’s roster leans into cost-effective upside and category juice:
Key Targets
Will Smith (C – LAD)
Falling in drafts despite top-tier production potential.
Vinnie Pasquantino (1B – KC)
A favorite breakout bat, especially with ballpark changes boosting power outlook.
Jeremy Pena (SS – HOU)
Injury discount + strong spring signals = value.
Wyatt Langford (OF – TEX)
A 20/20 baseline with room for more.
Chandler Simpson (OF – TB)
Elite speed with sneaky average. A potential league-winner in stolen bases.
Pitching Core
The theme: build a stable base, then chase ceiling.
Joe’s roster leans more aggressive, with a heavy emphasis on young bats and upside plays.
Core Hitters
Francisco Alvarez (C – NYM)
Still just 24, with 30-HR upside at catcher.
Bo Bichette (SS – NYM)
A bounce-back candidate with contract-year motivation.
Roman Anthony (OF – BOS)
One of the most exciting young bats entering 2026.
Jac Caglianone (OF – KC)
Massive power upside and rising hype.
Pitching Targets
Joe’s approach leans into ceiling and breakout potential, especially with prospects ready to impact early.
One of the most aggressive calls from the episode: Chandler Simpson could steal 100 bases.
That sounds wild, but the logic checks out:
Even if he falls short, 50+ steals feels like a realistic floor. That alone makes him a premium fantasy asset.
After an 11-strikeout performance, Shohei Ohtani continues to redefine fantasy value.
In daily lineup leagues, the flexibility to use him as both hitter and pitcher creates unmatched roster leverage. If your format allows it, he’s still the clear 1.01.
Tyler O’Neill has homered on Opening Day six straight years.
Seven in a row would be historic. The odds sit around 3-to-1, making it one of the most talked-about bets of the slate.
The hosts? They’re out.
The takeaway? Fun narrative, but don’t force it into your betting strategy.
Prospect arms like Connelly Early are already creating buzz.
Even if usage is limited early due to service-time manipulation, the advice is clear:
These are the types of players that swing leagues by midseason.
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Grand Canyon junior guard Makaih Williams will enter the transfer portal, his agent told 247Sports.
Williams transferred to GCU in 2024 after playing at the University of Texas-Arlington as a freshman. In 27.1 minutes per game during this past season, he averaged 14 points per game, 2.7 rebounds per game and two assists per game on 43% shooting in 20 starts.
He also finished as the team’s second-leading scorer and only he and senior guard Jaden Henley (17.7) averaged at least 10 points per game.
Williams was selected to the All-Mountain West Third Team and became one of three Antelopes to receive all-conference honors alongside Henley as a First Team selection and All-Defensive forward Nana Owusu-Anane.
This decision is the first bit of activity for GCU in the transfer portal during the 2026 offseason.
The Antelopes finished 20-12 and 13-7 in-conference in the program’s first season in the Mountain West Conference.
The Arizona Cardinals hosted Arizona Wildcats cornerback Treydan Stukes for a pre-NFL Draft visit, the prospect told SI.com’s Justin Melo.
Stukes added he’s visited the Tennessee Titans and was planning to meet with more NFL teams as the draft closes in.
While he played primarily cornerback at Arizona, he is also being viewed as a safety at the next level thanks to his versatility.
The 6-foot-1, 190-pound defensive back is coming off his sixth season with the Wildcats where he recorded 52 tackles, one sack, a career-high four interceptions and six passes defensed in 10 games played.
Stukes then turned it on at the NFL Draft Combine, highlighted by a 4.33-second 40-yard dash and 1.50-second 10-yard split. Those marks were good enough for third and second, respectively, among safety prospects.
While the Cardinals have plenty of depth at cornerback, they could find a need for Stukes at safety.
Despite the Cardinals watching seven-year starter Jalen Thompson depart for the Dallas Cowboys this offseason, Arizona did replenish the room with the free-agent signing of Andrew Wingard.
Budda Baker is locked in as a unquestioned starter. Beyond him, though, it’s up for debate with Thompson no longer in the picture.
The most likely candidates to take over Thompson’s role are Dadrion “Rabbit” Taylor-Demerson and Wingard. Kitan “Bug” Crawford is another name to watch, though he played sparingly on defensive behind 14% of available snaps.
Adding Stukes wouldn’t hurt from a competition or depth standpoint.
He is, however, being viewed as a second-round pick as the draft approaches, with NFL.com’s Chad Reuter linking the safety to the Chicago Bears’ No. 57 overall pick.
Stukes marks one of the only known draft prospects to visit the Cardinals, joining Florida defensive lineman Caleb Banks.
