Rolling In The Deep: Some Deep Thoughts About Opening Day Lineups

Happy Opening Week! I couldn’t be happier to finally be writing about actual games that are happening after a long offseason of drafting. Well, I could be happier if Jared Jones and Shane McClanahan weren’t injured, but gotta keep moving forward, no? As we settle into the beginning of the season, this week we’ll check in on opening day lineups looking for deeper league players that may have had a very recent value change or are making an immediate impact to kick off the 2025 season (since in the deepest leagues, sometimes all it takes to “make an impact” is to be in an opening day lineup!) We’ll only touch on guys who are 10% owned or less in CBS leagues as we look to see who might be out there to help us bolster our rosters early.

AL

Alan Roden (10% owned in CBS leagues). Roden has had a bit of deep-league heat on him this week as it became clear he’d not only make the Blue Jays but would likely find decent playing time. Cut to opening day and he’s in the starting lineup, albeit batting ninth. This is a guy who was a five category player in the minors last year, so on the strong side of a platoon, he’s thrown himself squarely into the deep league picture at least, as we see if he can hold his own at the big league level.

Will Wagner (10% owned). Staying in Toronto, Wagner is DHing and batting seventh, theoretically on the strong side of a platoon for now. He doesn’t have a ton of pop or speed so he’s not likely to be a mixed league option any time soon, but the hit tool alone could keep him in the MLB lineup and on the deep league radar if he gets off to a decent start.

Oswaldo Cabrera (6% owned). He’s the New York Yankees opening day third baseman, though like Roden is batting ninth. Since he’s a switch hitter, Cabrera should be in for plenty of at bats to start the season. This is one of those “don’t forget he exists” type blurbs aimed at those of us in leagues deep enough that we are looking for whatever counting stats we can find.

Harrison Bader (4% owned). He’s yet another ninth place hitter (for the Twins), but one who may have some pop left in the bat and some speed left in the legs if he’s healthy.

Ty France (8% owned). Speaking of Twins, we’ve talked about France a couple times this offseason, and it does indeed appear that he’s poised to get most of their first base playing time. If he gets off to a hot start, this could be your last chance to scoop him up in deepish leagues.

Gabriel Arias (2% owned)/Brayan Rocchio (6% owned). There was a lot of chatter about who would emerge as the Guardians second baseman, and as of day one Arias is the guy, with Rocchio at short even though it’s a lefty/lefty matchup. There may not be a ton of fantasy potential in this middle infield, but there may be some value here in deep leagues.

MJ Melendez (7% owned). Remember him? I did when I saw he was in the opening day lineup for the Royals. I’m not convinced he’ll ever cut down on the strikeouts or be selective enough at the plate to succeed long term in the big leagues, but crazier things have happened.

Rowdy Tellez (2% owned). In another opening day start I didn’t see coming, Tellez is the opening day first baseman for the Seattle Mariners. If he settles in as the good side of a platoon, deep leaguers desperate for power may need to take notice.

NL

Endy Rodriguez (6% owned). The oft-injured former top catching prospect is healthy and in the Pirates opening day lineup… at first base. With his catcher eligibility, he could be one of the bargains of the offseason if he can stay afloat in the majors.

Mickey Moniak (2% owned).  Signed with the Rockies after being released by the Angels. Don’t really know what to say about this one, except, I guess this is good for his value because, Colorado? Or maybe it’s not, since the Rockies make perhaps the most perplexing decisions in baseball in terms of who they sign, who they throw money at, and who they play. He could be an every day starter blocking Jordan Beck and Zac Veen, or be minor league depth… it hurts my head trying to get into the heads of the Rockies’ brass.

Jose Trevino (1% owned). If you’re looking for a second catcher in ultra deep leagues, Trevino signed a deal with the Reds through 2027 and should play regularly while Tyler Stephenson is hurt. The average will likely be as atrocious as we’ve come to expect from most catchers, but there’s definitely a little pop in the bat.

Vinny Capra (1% owned). Capra is starting for the Brewers against a left hander, so I guess we have a Capra (on the short side)/Oliver Dunn (who is 3% owned) third base platoon, at least to open the year.

Brandon Lockridge 0% owned player alert! He’s playing left field for the Padres in game one of the year. He’s 28 and there’s likely not much to see here… but he does have some OBP skills as well as speed, so he gets a mention for the deepest leagues.

The entire Marlins opening day lineup after Xavier Edwards: Kyle Stowers, Jonah Bride, Matt Mervis, Otto Lopez, Griffin Conine, Derek Hill, Graham Pauley, and Nick Fortes. Okay I’m writing this before games start, but these guys all have to face Skenes on opening day? That doesn’t seem very fair, especially to those of us who don’t have any Skenes shares. Other than Lopez at 14% owned, the rest of these guys are 0 to 5% owned. Do with that information as you see fit, but there should be at bats available out of Miami for extra deep league owners who are searching for them.

That’s it for this week; thanks for reading and hope you enjoyed Opening Day!