Western Stars

Who Is Going to Play

Mar 09, 2026

∙ Paid

THE BOSS

Before we look at who is fighting who for playing time in baseball’s western divisions, I wanted to get this depressing and soaring single from Bruce Springsteen out there and maybe out of my ear worm.

It’s the title song from the boss’s 2019 countrypolitan album, a disk I’ve played more than any Springsteen record since The River. The first seven or eight tunes on the elpee are amazing concise tellings of personal stories driven by their honesty and humanity, their yearnings and their sense of loss. Springsteen has always written songs like this, but these connect back to the logorrheic wonders of youngsters in Greetings from Asbury Park and The Wild, the Innocent, and the E Street Shuffle, but with poetic restraint and an insistent nod to what being human feels like.

I don’t know if you’re better off watching this video or not. I understood the song without watching the video, which I just saw for the first time this morning. It’s pretty literal (when he says “El Camino” the video cuts to an El Camino) and reflects the story pretty accurately while emphasizing the soaring music.

AL WEST

Rangers Closer: We can look until we’re blue in the face and not gain clarity here. Manager Skip Schumaker has shown in the past that he’ll mix and match closers if he has to, which could mean a committee of Alexis Diaz, who hasn’t been effective since 2023, Robert Garcia, who is a lefty, and Chris Martin, who is pushing 40 years old. Diaz has been the opposite of effective so far this spring, walking four in 1.3 innings pitched with a blown save. If Martin is going more cheaply than Garcia I’d go for him, but I wouldn’t push either of them too far because this team could also look elsewhere.

Astros Outfield: If Jose Altuve hadn’t been so bad last year playing the outfield now would be a good time to run him out there and give the team’s talented infielders more playing time. As it stands, last year’s spring training darling, Cam Smith, and Zach Cole, would appear to be in the lead for the two corner spots, but neither is a significant fantasy contributor and could be challenged by Joey Loperfido, who has struggled at the major league level, and Brice Matthews, who has stolen a lot of minor league bases while hitting for some power. Matthews is a second baseman by trade who has been playing outfield this spring to propel him into more of a utility role. In the experts leagues Smith went for $3 and $6, Cole for $1 and $1, and Loperfido and Matthews didn’t draw bids. I’d go $7 for Smith, though his struggles against righties last year could mean a smaller role, $4 for Cole, who has power and speed and contact issues, $1 for Loperfido, who has hit righties better than Smith in his career, and $2 for Matthews, who could also spell Jose Altuve at the keystone from time to time. There is potential upside at each of those prices.

Angels Closer: Robert Stephenson may be the best arm among the five candidates to close in Anaheim, but he has yet to pitch in a spring training game because he does not have the best shoulder. Ben Joyce is returning from shoulder surgery that ended his last year early and hasn’t yet appeared this spring. Drew Pomeranz had an effective comeback after injury in Chicago last year and since his transition to relief has missed enough bats to be considered for the job. Jordan Romano was an effective closer for the Blue Jays in 2022 and 2023, but elbow surgery in 2024 limited his time and nerve issues in his hand last year limited his effectiveness. Finally, Kirby Yates saved 33 games for the Rangers in 2024 and worked less effectively as a setup guy for the Dodgers last year. He’s pushing 40 years old but is reunited with his 2024 pitching coach, Mike Maddux, a relationship that then revived a career in decline since a spectacular performance in 2019 in San Diego. The Angels say the job could be anyone’s, but there are reasons to think if Stephenson proves healthy it’s going to come down to him and Yates. Yates’ performance last year wasn’t that far off of his 2024 work, except for a worrying increase in homers allowed. Stephenson is working his way back from TJ and thoracic outlet syndrome and nerve issues but is reportedly throwing hard in camp, if not in games. He and Yates went for about $5 in the expert leagues so far, and both are good bets at that price.

Kumar Rocker’s College Days. Photo by Gamecock Central, CC BY 2.0.

Rangers Last Starter: The front of the rotation is led by Jacob deGrom, Nathan Eovaldi, MacKenzie Gore, and Jack Leiter, but the last spot seems to be between Kumar Rocker, a man with a big arm but who struggles against lefties, and Jacob Latz, who is effective in short stints but struggles to maintain his velocity the longer he goes. Rocker is working on a change-up in camp and in his development through the minors has had terrible times turn into dominant performances built on inconsistent mechanics. Meaning, Rocker has a ton of potential that he may be able to tap, while Latz has a solid foundation who may not have the durability to work as a five inning starter. I think that means Rocker is worth a small bet, a reserve pick, even if Latz wins the job out of camp.

Mariners Second Base: Neither Cole Young nor Colt Emerson is hitting much this spring, but Young should have the edge because Emerson is so young. But Young isn’t that old and is not as good a prospect as Emerson is, and after hitting .211 last year and less than .200 so far this spring he could conceivably fumble the job away. Neither of these guys looks to be big with the power or speed numbers, though Young has hit the ball hard, so a bet either way shouldn’t cost too much, but give the edge to Young out of camp.

NL WEST

Diamondbacks Outfield: What do you do with a problem like Jordan? Lawlar, that is. A No. 6 overall in 2021, he’s hit and walked in the minor leagues, but in recent years he’s been hurt a bunch and in brief major league stints in 2023 and last year he’s struggled, striking out 34.3 percent of the time in slightly more than 100 plate appearances. He’s also been pushed off shortstop and third base and is trying to make the team this year as a center fielder. He’s hitting so far this spring, with a 1.266 OPS so far, but he’s also striking out more than 27 percent of the time. In the regular D-back outfield Lawlar would be flanked by Corbin Carroll and Lourdes Gurriel Jr., but Carroll is recovering from a fractured hamate and won’t be back until later in April, and Gurriel tore up his knee last year and is not expected back until May or June (though he says he’ll be ready for opening day). In the meantime, expect to see Alek Thomas, who is also having a hot spring, and Jose Barrosa, who is not but is out of options, getting regular at bats. Ryan Waldschmidt, a top prospect, has already been sent away from major league camp and should get more minor league dev time to start the season.

Rockies First Base: The marquee name is Charlie Condon, the No. 3 overall in 2024, though he hit just .235 last year in 237 plate appearances in Double-A with an .807 OPS. That’s not bad but isn’t shouting for promotion yet. He is off to a hot start in spring training, however, so that door might open. If the team decides to have him taste Triple-A first, look for either Blaine Crim or Tory Johnstone to land the job, or more likely to share it. They were born five days apart in 1997, which makes them old prospects, with Crim a bit of a power hitter with good contact skills but an oblique strain that has kept him from playing in spring training, while Johnstone may have less power and strikes out a little more but has more speed. Dark horse TJ Rumfield is younger than Crim and Johnstone, but without their power. He is killing the ball in spring training and has stepped into the conversation of who hits against righties until Condon arrives.

Diamondbacks Closer: Paul Sewald has been a closer before. Kevin Ginkel has been talked about as a closer before. Justin Martinez had TJ last June, while AJ Puk had internal brace about the same time, giving Puk some chance of being back in July. Pencil Martinez in for the last month or so. Until then, Ginkel and Sewald should be cheap options who have some chance of settling into or sharing the role. Neither should cost too much.

NEWSDAY

Zack Littel, signs with the Nationals: He’s been an effective pitcher in recent years despite his strikeout rate falling below 7 per 9 innings pitched. He was not pursued in free agency and finally agreed to terms with the Nationals, which is not a team that’s going to be conducive to winning, which further limits his limited fantasy value. But with his fine control he offsets some of the issues of allowing contact and home runs. If he continues on this path he’ll be traded to a contender at some point this summer.

Jeferson Quero, sent down by the Brewers: My quest to root him into the big leagues this year is foiled. Keep him on your radar however.

Nelson Velazquez, playing left field for the Cardinals: He’s in the mix while Lars Nootbaar is on the IL. There’s a lot of competition and he spent last year in Mexico and Triple-A, plus he’s not on the 40-man roster, so consider him a long shot, but he has a little power so keep an eye on his role. Nootbaar had surgery on both heels in the offseason and there is no target date for his return.

WHAT WE SELL HERE

We’re now in the heat of the fantasy drafts and we have Master Sheets that have projections, suggested roto prices, expert roto league prices from CBS Analysts and the LABR leagues, and projections in simple spreadsheet. Here’s a screen capture of the first two lines:

These are available to paid subscribers of the monthly and so-called annual plans in a link after the paywall at the end of each newsletter. So-called annual subscribers also get a copy Rotoman’s Fantasy Baseball Guide A-Z 2026 PDF in their email.

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ASK ROTOMAN

Rotoman:

I was a bit surprised to see Grant Taylor go for $7 in LABR. I have him for $1. I know the "official" word is that he's going to be a MIRP this season and stretch out to be a starter next season but do you think he ends up being the closer by default instead? Would you take him over a guy like Noah Cameron?

“Closer in Waiting in Disguise”

Dear CWD:

Taylor seems to be following in the White Sox Garrett Crochet development path, though it should be noted that Crochet pitched 146 innings his first year as a starter, a year after pitching 12 innings. So what they are suggesting about Taylor is different.

It may be smarter, too. Crochet was great in the first half of 2024 but struggled in the second half, apparently because he wore down.

If you have Grant Taylor at $1 this year keep him. He may not close, though Seranthony Dominguez does not have a record as a closer, but no matter what the White Sox ask him to do he’ll have a chance to throw strikeouts. A lot of strikeouts.

And if Dominguez struggles or gets hurt? Why not run Taylor out there?

And yes, I would take him over Cameron, who earned nicely last year with a decidedly lucky ERA that he will struggle to repeat this year. If Taylor ends up with 100 innings pitched he might even strike out more hitters than Cameron.

Sincerely,
Rotoman

HOUSEKEEPING

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