Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale threw on a back field on Wednesday instead of the Grapefruit League game versus the Toronto Blue Jays. It serves as a likely indication that Sale is lined up to start Atlanta's third outing of the regular season on March 31 on the road against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, with aces Spencer Strider and Max Fried setting up to take the ball in the first and second contests of the year respectively. The Braves acquired the 34-year-old Sale, MLB's all-time leader with 11.1 strikeouts per nine innings, from the Boston Red Sox back on Dec. 30 in exchange for former top infielder prospect Vaughn Grissom to bolster their starting rotation. The veteran southpaw posted a 3.86 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, and 17:4 K:BB over 11 2/3 frames this spring and could be a value at his 129 NFBC ADP with a better defense behind him plus a more favorable home ballpark factor in 2024.

St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Sonny Gray (hamstring) is scheduled to throw a bullpen session on Wednesday. After that, Gray is expected to progress to facing live hitters on Friday. The 34-year-old has already been ruled out for Opening Day. Although, Gray may be able to avoid a trip to the injured list. The Cardinals are likely going to wait and see how he feels after Friday before making any more decisions.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) appears to be making progress in his recovery process. The right-hander was able to throw a two-inning simulated game on Wednesday without any issues. Gausman won't be ready for Opening Day as he still needs to build up his stamina and pitch count. That being said, Gausman is likely to be skipped the first and possibly the second time through the rotation. He should be ready to go by mid-April, but that all depends on his recovery.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) finished a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday, throwing 36 pitches (28 strikes) to seven batters. He allowed two hits and struck out two during the session and said everything felt sound physically with his shoulder. Gausman's next step is to target 60-65 pitches over three innings in a simulated game, which will likely take place on Monday. The Blue Jays will make a call on Gausman's availability for the start of the season after his next simulated game. The 33-year-old veteran and ace of Toronto's staff has been working through right-shoulder fatigue in camp and won't start on Opening Day next week, but he may not be far behind. He should still be considered a top-10 fantasy starter.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Yu Darvish only lasted 3 2/3 innings in a no-decision in Wednesday's Opening Day contest versus the Los Angeles Dodgers in Seoul, South Korea. The veteran allowed two hits, one unearned run, three walks and struck out three on the day. Darvish probably could have gone longer, but the Padres defense did not do him any favors. Darvish had good results in the Cactus League this spring with a 2.89 ERA in three starts, but is coming off one his worst careers in the big leagues with a 4.56 ERA in 2023. Despite the ERA, his numbers were on par for the rest of his career. The 37-year-old isn't getting any younger, but he should remain a solid option for managers in the middle of their rotation.

San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) will make his Cactus League debut on Friday against the Chicago Cubs and will throw three innings. Cobb was initially expected to return around midseason after he underwent surgery on his hip last October, but the 36-year-old veteran has made excellent progress this offseason and now might be able to join San Fran's starting rotation just a few weeks into the year. Cobb made his spring debut in a minor-league game last Saturday and struck out five in two scoreless innings. He's still going to open the year on the injured list, but Cobb now becomes a more attractive matchup-based streaming option in 2024. However, health issues probably aren't going to go away for a pitcher that was far too hittable in 2023.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) will throw a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday, according to manager John Schneider. Because of right-shoulder fatigue that he developed in spring training, Gausman will not be the team's Opening Day starter on March 28 against the Tampa Bay Rays, although he should be able to make his 2024 debut for the Jays in the middle of April, barring a setback with his arm. When healthy, the 33-year-old veteran is the ace of Toronto's pitching staff and should still be considered a top-10 fantasy arm. The former first-rounder in 2012 out of LSU by the Orioles has been an All-Star in two of the last three years and went 12-9 in 2023 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 55 walks and a league-leading 237 K's in 31 starts.

Minnesota Twins relief pitcher Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) will be one of several of the team's pitching staff to start the 2024 season on the injured list, per the Athletic's Aaron Gleeman. Thielbar suffered a strained left hamstring early in camp and, while he progressed to throwing live batting practice last week, it was determined that the 37-year-old won't be ready in time to start the season. Thielbar had a successful 2023 season, earning 14 holds with a 3.23 ERA, 0.95 WHIP, and 30.0% strikeout rate in 30 2/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers in saves-plus-holds leagues should look for additional information on a timetable for his return.

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that right-hander Nick Martinez (ribs) is locked into a starting rotation spot to begin the year, along with Frankie Montas, Hunter Greene and Graham Ashcraft. The fifth spot is down to Andrew Abbott and Brandon Williamson (shoulder). Martinez has been dealing with a rib issue in camp, but he was able to throw a simulated game over the weekend and should be ready for Opening Day on March 28. The 33-year-old has started 87 of the 198 games that he's appeared in in the big leagues in six seasons, and he's been more effective in his career in a relief role. Moving back to the bullpen is still an option once lefty Nick Lodolo (leg) makes his 2024 debut, which makes Martinez more of an NL-only asset in his first year with the Reds.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Martin Perez continued his impressive spring during Monday's game against the Philadelphia Phillies. The left-hander struck out eight batters over five innings of work during Monday's victory. It's worth noting that Perez never struck out eight hitters during a single start last season. His velocity was down during this game and he was still extremely effective. Perez has allowed one earned run in 12 innings this season. Perez probably won't be a reliable 12-team fantasy option, but could still be worth a look in deep leagues.

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada said that right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) should face hitters "in the next day or two" in camp. Verlander came into spring training with right-shoulder issues, but he threw another bullpen session on Sunday and is ramping up with the start of the 2024 regular season right around the corner. The 41-year-old future Hall of Famer and three-time Cy Young winner is going to start the year on the injured list and might not make his 2024 debut until late April or early May. He became the first pitcher age 40 or older to win 12 games and post an ERA below 3.25 since 2013, so Verlander can clearly still be effective despite his age. However, injuries are a big concern, and his fantasy value has obviously dropped considerably in 2024 now that he could miss the first month of the season.

Cincinnati Reds pitcher Nick Martinez (ribs) threw a live batting practice session on Saturday. The right-hander threw three innings of a simulated game as he works his way back to full health. The plan is for Martinez to build his way back up into being a starting pitcher. The 33-year-old could end up turning into a swingman type of role depending on how the rest of the rotation shakes out in Cincinnati. At the moment, Martinez isn't a very appealing option heading into fantasy drafts. However, it sounds like the right-hander is making good progress in his recovery.

With St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) not set to be cleared to pitch on Opening Day on March 28 against the Los Angeles Dodgers on the road, right-hander Miles Mikolas has been tabbed as the Opening Day starter for the Red Birds. Not only is Mikolas not much of a mixed-league target in standard 12-team fantasy leagues, but he should be considered a poor DFS option on Opening Day against a strong Dodgers lineup that added Shohei Ohtani in the offseason. The 35-year-old veteran is hoping an improved slider will make him more effective this year after he had a 4.78 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 39 walks, 137 strikeouts and league-highs in hits allowed (226) and earned runs (107). There's just not much fantasy upside from a pitcher with a career 6.6 strikeouts per nine innings in eight years in the majors.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) will not be cleared for Opening Day on March 28, according to manager Oliver Marmol. However, there is a possibility that Gray won't open the year on the injured list and could potentially pitch later in the first road trip of the season. With Gray out for Opening Day, right-hander Miles Mikolas will be the team's Opening Day starter on the road in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. The 34-year-old is set to throw a simulated game on Sunday after straining his right hamstring on March 4. It's a bummer that Gray won't be making the team's Opening Day start in his first season in St. Louis, but his injury might not require him to miss a start at all to open the year. After finishing second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023, Gray makes for a high-floor No. 3 fantasy starter in 2024.

Free-agent outfielder Kole Calhoun has decided to retire from professional baseball. The veteran announced his retirement in a lengthy statement online after a solid 12-year run in the majors. Calhoun began to cement himself in the 2013 season when he hit .282 with eight homers in just 58 games. He went on to become the everyday right fielder for the Angels the following season when he hit .272 with 17 home runs and a .775 OPS across 127 games in the 2013 campaign. He would be an integral part of the Angels' offense for the next five seasons, launching a career-high 33 home runs in the 2019 campaign. All told, the 36-year-old posted a .242 average with 179 long balls and 34 stolen bases across 1,239 appearances in the big leagues.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring), who strained his right hamstring on March 4, will pitch in a simulated pre-game situation at Roger Dean Stadium on Sunday. Hitters will stand in, but not swing. It's the next step in Gray's rehab, with the team still holding out hope that he can pitch in the season-opening series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. In a worst-case scenario, the 34-year-old veteran would end up on the injured list to begin the year but would have a minimum stay and make his season debut early on in April. If he's ready to go for the first series versus the Dodgers, he'd be a fade in DFS coming off his injury. But overall, last year's runner-up to Gerrit Cole for the American League Cy Young award is a high-floor No. 3/4 fantasy starter in his first year in St. Louis.

Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (back), who had surgery on Dec. 15 on his back for a herniated disc that shut him down late last season, has been cleared for baseball activities around the 13-week mark since surgery. June remains the target date for the Rangers, although Scherzer doesn't fully see it that way. In eight starts for Texas in 2023 after being traded from the Mets, he went 4-2 with a 3.20 ERA, but he missed the final six weeks of the regular season due to a muscle strain in his right shoulder. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer isn't targeting any specific date to make his 2024 debut, and the reality is he could miss all of the first half of the season. Scherzer can still contribute in fantasy when he's healthy, but the fact that he could miss the first half drastically reduces his fantasy value in upcoming drafts.

Houston Astros first baseman Jose Abreu (knee) is scheduled to do a full workout in camp on Friday and Saturday, with the goal of serving as the designated hitter in a Grapefruit League game on Sunday versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Abreu has been dealing with some minor knee soreness in camp in the last week, but the 37-year-old is fine and should return to game action soon. Given his age, Abreu is expected to see more of his at-bats at DH for the Astros in 2024 in order to keep him off his feet as much as possible. After a dreadful start to the season for Houston in the first half of last season, the Cuban slugger rebounded to hit .237/.296/.383 with 18 home runs and 90 RBI in 540 regular-season at-bats. Abreu isn't the hitter he once was with the Chicago White Sox, but he can deliver moderate power as a corner infield option in mixed fantasy leagues with plenty of RBI chances.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder George Springer slugged a solo home run as part of his team's 9-6 loss to the Detroit Tigers in Grapefruit League action on Friday. The long ball was the veteran's second of the spring in what has been a prosperous start to Springer's 2024 season. He is hitting .318 (7-for-22) with seven runs, three RBI, a stolen base, six walks, and a big-time 1.100 OPS across 28 trips to the plate to this point in the spring. He has just three strikeouts in the process. The 34-year-old endured a down season at the plate by his standards in 2023, hitting .258 with 21 home runs and 20 stolen bases across 154 appearances. While a quality campaign overall, his 104 wRC+ was the lowest of his 10-year MLB career. He projects for a bounce back overall by ATC but his 22 homers and 14 stolen bags projected aren't much different than his 2023 season, although those figures would still serve fantasy managers well.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) was able to throw one inning of live batting practice on Friday. The right-hander threw 23 pitches during this session without any issues. Blue Jays manager John Schneider told reporters that Gausman looked great during the outing. The organization has not given a timetable for his return to the mound. At this point, Gausman is unlikely going to be ready for the beginning of the season. However, this issue doesn't seem to be too serious, so he should be ready relatively early in the regular season.