The first weekend of this sprint of a baseball season is in the books. And what a wild, roller-coaster ride it was! And just like a fresh-faced kid that is riding a coaster for the very first time, we all need to grab onto something and be ready to scream our heads off. We haven’t seen anything yet! This is your fantasy baseball weekend roundup. Buckle up!

Fantasy Baseball Weekend Roundup 1: The Florida Marlins season is in jeopardy due to COVID-19

After a positive opening series against the Philadelphia Phillies, in which the Marlins won two of three, Miami finds itself in full crisis mode. According to multiple reports, the Marlins game against Baltimore Monday was canceled due to as many as 12 coaches and players having tested positive for COVID-19. This is a massive problem for Miami and baseball at large. How many players and how many games will this affect? Fantasy owners will need to keep the Tylenol handy as several headaches are in store when trying to manage rosters.

It also must be pointed out that Miami is not the only team impacted by this situation. It is also reported that the opening game between the Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies was canceled. This was due to the fact that the clubhouse New York would use was just cleared out by Miami. There may not be many Marlins or Orioles on fantasy rosters, but Philly and NY players are well represented.

It is clear that fantasy owners need to monitor the situation closely and adjust rosters as necessary. We all need to say a prayer this isn’t the first domino to fall in a series that winds up canceling the entire season.

Fantasy Baseball Weekend Roundup 2: Injuries impact several elite starting pitchers

The following list reads like a who’s who of starting pitching. The season’s first day couldn’t even get underway without an ace getting scratched before his start. Clayton Kershaw was scheduled to make his franchise extending ninth Opening Day start for the Dodgers against the Giants, but it was not to be.

He was scratched from the start due to back stiffness and placed on the injured list. Kershaw has had back problems in his career before and it isn’t clear when he will be back on the field. If you haven’t already, put him on your team’s injured list and get him replaced. Like right now.

However, Kershaw wasn’t the only starter to go down the past few days. The National’s Stephen Strasburg was pulled from his scheduled Saturday start against the Yankees. This was due to a nerve issue in his right hand. Strasburg said that he hopes to return soon, but his return is anyone’s guess. He will be a pain for fantasy managers (including me) because he isn’t on the injured list. He will have to be carried on active rosters until further notice.

Other Elite Starting Pitchers Impacted

But wait, the news is even worse for Astros’ ace Justin Verlander. At first, the story broke over the weekend that Verlander was out for the season with a strain of his right forearm. But later in the day, ESPN published a report that Verlander denied those reports, saying that he hoped to return soon.

Not sure what soon is supposed to mean, but it certainly seems fair to say that he will miss significant time. And with this season in a full sprint, missing any starts is a huge deal especially for a pitcher with as many miles on his arm as Verlander has. As with Kershaw, put Verlander on the injured list, pronto!

Last, but not least, the news wasn’t all smiles and rainbows for Rangers right-hander Corey Kluber. After a trade from Cleveland in the off-season, Kluber was making his first start of the season. This was after being hit by a line drive on the mound in May 2019 and missing the remainder of the year. His Texas beginning was routine enough as he threw a shutout inning.

But Kluber reported afterward that his shoulder tightened and only grew worse with each pitch. He was removed and awaits further tests. As with Verlander, Kluber isn’t a young man anymore. I was high on Kluber coming into the season, but that has to put on the back burner right now. There is nothing more to do with him on a roster until further word arrives.

Fantasy Baseball Weekend Roundup Three: Juan Soto tests positive

The news wasn’t all about pitchers over the weekend. Baseball couldn’t even get the first game of the season started with the virus rearing its ugly head. Before Thursday’s game between the Yankees and Nationals, it was announced that all everything OF Juan Soto had tested positive. He hasn’t played yet this season.

Not long after, it was reported that Soto had tested negative. He needs two negative tests to be reinstated. Many owners took him early in drafts and his absence makes for a huge hole on rosters, both on the field and in fantasy. This situation bears watching in the coming days. Hopefully, he will be back in action soon, unlike the pitchers above.

How’s that for a roller coaster? Don’t unbuckle the seat belt just yet. There are tons of twists and turns yet to come!

If you missed my article on fantasy baseball news coming into the season, click here. Follow me on twitter @kevin62wilsea and always remember to look to Belly Up Sports and Belly Up Sports Fantasy Sports and Picks for all the latest sports news!