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2026 Fantasy Baseball Player Profile

Matt McLain’s 2025 season was a sobering reminder of how difficult it is to return from a major injury. After missing all of 2024 due to shoulder surgery, McLain struggled with visible rust for the majority of the year, slashing .220/.300/.343 with 15 home runs and 18 stolen bases across 147 games. While he managed to remain a lineup fixture, his offensive impact plummeted; his OPS dropped over 200 points from his 2023 debut (.864 to .643), and his strikeout rate spiked to a career-high 28.9%. The lone bright spot was his defense at second base, where he remained elite with 6 Outs Above Average (OAA), finishing third among all NL second basemen.

The 2026 season is being billed as a "fresh start" for the 26-year-old infielder. McLain arrived in Goodyear this spring reportedly 12 pounds heavier, having focused on a strength-and-conditioning program to reclaim the "twitch" and bat speed he lacked in 2025. He officially kicked off his 2026 Cactus League campaign on February 22 with an encouraging 2-for-3 performance against the Mariners, including a double and two RBI while batting second. However, he finds himself on a shorter leash than in years past; with the slimmed-down Sal Stewart taking reps at second base and manager Terry Francona noting that "playing time is no longer secure," McLain must prove early that his 2023 form wasn't a fluke.

For fantasy managers, McLain has transitioned from a blue-chip asset to a high-risk/high-reward sleeper with an ADP around 226.