The Tampa Bay Rays and Boston Red Sox made surprising rotation moves Tuesday that fantasy managers can’t ignore. Ryan Pepiot, the Rays’ innings leader last season, will start the year on the injured list with right hip inflammation, though he could return by mid-April. His spot will be filled by Joe Boyle, who faces the Cardinals in a favorable matchup, though it might be a piggyback start with Ian Seymour. Seymour, boasting a 2.70 ERA and 28.8% strikeout rate in spring, could push for a permanent role, potentially displacing Nick Martinez.

The Red Sox opted to start rookie Connelly Early over Johan Oviedo in their rotation. Early, with a 31.5% minor league strikeout rate, will debut against the Reds—a tough matchup—but his six-pitch arsenal gives him upside. Oviedo, meanwhile, will begin in the bullpen, a demotion for the former top prospect.

These decisions ripple through fantasy lineups. AL-only leagues prioritize Seymour’s sleeper potential, while Early’s early-season matchups require caution. Both moves highlight how roster construction and injury updates shape fantasy strategies.