San Francisco Giants right-hander Alex Cobb (hip) threw five innings in a rehab start in Arizona on Thursday. Cobb is eligible to return from the injured list on April 9th and is well ahead of his initial recovery timeline. He owned a 3.87 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 131:37 K: BB across 151 1/3 innings in 2023. The 36-year-old may be a viable streaming option once he returns to the Giants rotation and is projected for a 3.84 ERA and a 1.28 WHIP. Injury concerns are likely to be consistent with Cobb, so fantasy managers should take caution about how much they depend on him when rostering the right-hander.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) threw a bullpen session at Tropicana Field on Friday. Manager John Schneider said on Thursday that there will likely be no decision on when Gausman makes his season debut until Saturday. The 33-year-old veteran will either make his 2024 debut on Sunday against the Tampa Bay Rays or on Monday for the first game of a series versus the Houston Astros. Neither matchup is particularly nice for Gausman to make his season debut after missing valuable time in spring training with right-shoulder fatigue. The Blue Jays ace looked excellent in an exhibition game on Monday, but we would still encourage DFS gamers to fade Gausman in his first start of 2024.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Nick Castellanos is hitting in the seven-hole for Friday's season opener versus the Atlanta Braves and right-hander Spencer Strider. The veteran largely hit somewhere in the top four in the lineup for much of the 2023 season but was moved down into the seven-hole more frequently in September. Nonetheless, it was a bounce-back season for the 32-year-old who hit .272 with 29 home runs while setting career highs with 106 RBI and 11 stolen bases. It was the third time in his career he has reached the century mark in RBI while his previous career-high in steals was seven in the 2022 season. The increase in stolen base attempts sure boosts his fantasy value but fantasy managers should brace for a few less steals in 2024.

Houston Astros right-handed reliever Ryan Pressly picked up the loss in Thursday's 5-4 Opening Day defeat to the visiting New York Yankees. He entered in the seventh frame in a 4-4 tie and allowed an earned run on two hits (a leadoff double to Aaron Judge) while walking one and striking out one. The 35-year-old veteran is off to a bad start after losing a lot of his fantasy appeal in the offseason when the team signed left-hander Josh Hader to be their new closer. The former 11th-round selection by the Boston Red Sox in 2007 has made two All-Star teams in his 12-year MLB career and saved 31 games for the Astros in 2023 while posting a 3.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 65 1/3 regular-season innings. Despite no longer being the closer in Houston, Pressly still has plenty of value in holds leagues.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Taijuan Walker (shoulder) is opening the season on the 15-day injured list with an impingement in his right shoulder. Walker doesn't need an injection or an MRI exam, though, and is hoping he doesn't have to miss much time. The 31-year-old felt discomfort while throwing a bullpen session last weekend and has been shut down since. With Walker starting the year on the shelf, it has opened up a starting rotation spot for Spencer Turnbull in Philly. Walker, the former 43rd overall pick in 2010 by the Seattle Mariners, went 15-6 last year in his first season with the Phils and had a 4.38 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 71 walks and 138 strikeouts in 172 2/3 innings over 31 starts. He was fortunate to have those numbers, though, with below-average walk and strikeout rates.

Texas Rangers right-hander Max Scherzer (back) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday. He said his arm is feeling good and described this period as "early February" for him if he didn't have the rehab for his back injury. Scherzer said there are still hurdles to jump through, but he said he respects the process of the rehab he's currently going through. The 39-year-old future Hall of Famer underwent back surgery in December to fix a herniated disc in his back, which is why he's not ready for the start of the 2024 regular season. The Rangers don't have plans to put Scherzer on the 60-day injured list, which means that he could make his return to Texas' rotation before the end of May. That would be a best-case scenario. While Scherzer can still be an asset in fantasy, his days of being an ace are likely behind him at this point, especially coming off injury.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-hander Jake Odorizzi (shoulder) will make a start for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, April 2, and then the team will go "start-to-start" on deciding when/if they'll bring him to the major-league level. Not only did Odorizzi not sign with the Rays until March 15, but he didn't pitch at all in 2023 while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder. The 34-year-old veteran should eventually become a rotation option for Tampa this year, but he'll certainly be on an innings limit and already didn't come with much fantasy upside. The former first-rounder (32nd overall) of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 went 6-6 with the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves in his last season in 2022, sporting a 4.40 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 35 walks and 86 K's over 22 starts.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider said that the team still hasn't decided on when right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) will make his first start of the season, but it will be either Sunday in Tampa Bay against the Rays or on Monday in Houston versus the Astros. Gausman came out of his only Grapefruit League start on Monday fine and will not need to open the regular season on the injured list after dealing with shoulder fatigue in spring training. Neither matchup is ideal for the 33-year-old's first start after missing time in spring training, so he'll be more risky than normal in season-long fantasy leagues and in DFS in his first start of 2024. But fantasy managers should feel comfortable that the Blue Jays' ace can put his shoulder injury in the rearview and put forth another strong season as a No. 1 starter.

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Max Scherzer (back) continues making progress from his offseason back surgery and was able to play catch on Wednesday. The veteran right-hander won't be ready for Opening Day, but might not miss too much time. Rangers manager Chris Young doesn't believe that Scherzer will need to be placed on the 60-day injured list. Instead, Young suggested that Scherzer could be back as early as May. The Rangers are likely going to be cautious with the 39-year-old. His injury might push him back into the later rounds of fantasy drafts.

The Los Angeles Dodgers and catcher Will Smith are finalizing a 10-year, $140 million contract extension. The 28-year-old has been one of the most productive offensive catchers since entering the big leagues in the 2019 season, putting together a career .263 average with 91 home runs and an .842 OPS across 486 games played. Most recently, he hit .261 with 19 home runs, 80 runs, 76 RBI, and a .797 OPS across 554 trips to the plate in the 2023 season. ATC projects Smith to club 21 home runs along with 74 RBI and an .823 OPS in 124 games in the 2024 season as he is every bit worthy of his 80.46 ADP as the fourth catcher off the draft board this spring.

The Oakland Athletics acquired minor-league left-hander T.J. McFarland from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday in exchange for cash considerations and selected his contract from Triple-A Las Vegas to their 40-man roster. The 34-year-old southpaw was drafted by the Cleveland Guardians in the fourth round in 2007 and he has 11 years of major-league experience with five different teams, including the A's back in 2020. McFarland made three appearances out of the New York Mets' bullpen in 2023 and has a career 4.14 ERA (4.20 FIP), a 1.47 WHIP, one save, 154 walks and 279 strikeouts in 474 innings in his 11 major-league seasons. Now with the rebuilding A's, McFarland certainly has a much better chance at contributing at the big-league level again in 2024 now that he's out of LA.

Tampa Bay Rays right-hander Jake Odorizzi (shoulder) was scheduled to pitch in Tuesday's exhibition game at Tropicana Field against the Detroit Tigers rather than in a minor-league game on Wednesday. Odorizzi sees it as a truer test of his progress in what will be his first game pitched since Oct. of 2022 due to arthroscopic surgery on his right shoulder. The 33-year-old veteran signed with the Rays late in spring training this year and will begin the 2024 campaign in the minor leagues as a result. If Odorizzi doesn't have any setbacks with his shoulder, he should have a spot open for him in the rotation with both Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) recovering from injuries. Even in deeper fantasy leagues, managers will probably want to wait and see before trusting Odorizzi in starting lineups whenever he makes his 2024 debut.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) threw two simulated innings (32 pitches) during his live batting practice session on Tuesday and sat at 92-94 mph and touched 95 mph on the stadium radar gun in his first inning at Minute Maid Park. Manager Joe Espada said on Monday that if all goes well with Verlander's session on Tuesday, his next step will be starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 41-year-old veteran said he felt good on Tuesday and wants to build up his pitch count to 85 before making his 2024 debut for the Astros. Houston isn't going to rush the process, so fantasy managers that have Verlander stashed for rotation depth this year shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make his season debut until May.

Veteran right-hander Carlos Carrasco has made the Cleveland Guardians' Opening Day starting rotation and is slated to make his 2024 debut on Sunday against the Oakland Athletics and right-hander Paul Blackburn. Although the 37-year-old Carrasco doesn't have much fantasy appeal these days, he could be a sneaky streamer this weekend against the A's. We'll see how Carrasco fares to open the season, but when Gavin Williams (elbow) is healthy, there's a good chance Carrasco will be bumped from the rotation. In 20 starts (90 innings) for the New York Mets in 2023, he wasn't good, going 3-8 with a 6.80 ERA (5.86 FIP) and 1.70 WHIP while walking 38 and striking out 66. Carrasco will most likely serve as a multi-inning reliever for Cleveland for most of the year.

Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Kevin Gausman (shoulder) had an encouraging start in Monday's 4-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Pirates. Gausman pitched three innings, allowing one run on three hits and no walks with seven strikeouts. The 33-year-old experienced shoulder soreness earlier in spring training, but now should avoid a stint on the injured list. His delay won't allow him to start on Opening Day, but he is lined up to start the series opener against the Houston Astros. This is great news for fantasy managers who drafted Gausman early in drafts.

The Chicago White Sox placed catcher Max Stassi (hip) on the 10-day injured list on Monday with left-hip inflammation and recalled catcher Korey Lee from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move. The 33-year-old Stassi will be eligible to be reinstated from the injured list on April 4, so he may not end up missing much time at all. However, it's not good news for Stassi after he missed all of 2023 with the Los Angeles Angels due to a hip injury and a family matter. When healthy, Stassi will be working as the primary backup catcher in Chicago to Martin Maldonado, leaving him very little fantasy appeal in the deepest of two-catcher leagues. Stassi also doesn't have much power in his lumber at the catching position.

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Chris Sale finished out his spring on a high note during Monday's game against the Minnesota Twins. The left-hander struggled during his last two outings but bounced back nicely here. Sale struck out six batters over three innings of work during the shutout victory. He'll end the spring with a 3.07 ERA and a 23/5 K/BB in 14 2/3 innings. Sale is set to make his Braves debut against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday. That isn't an ideal opponent for Sale but he has done enough for fantasy managers to give him the benefit of the doubt.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) will throw a two-inning live batting practice session on Tuesday at Minute Maid Park in Houston. If that session goes well, Verlander could start a rehab assignment after that, according to manager Joe Espada. The 41-year-old three-time Cy Young winner wasn't able to pitch at all in spring training due to shoulder issues that lingered this offseason. Verlander is going to begin the regular season on the injured list, and the Astros aren't going to rush the future Hall of Famer back, so we should expect him to make at least several rehab starts in the minor leagues. There's a good chance that Verlander won't make his 2024 debut until May. Verlander can still be effective when healthy, but he's no longer a fantasy ace.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) is planning to start Monday's Grapefruit League finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, which would set him up to avoid the injured list and take his first turn in the starting rotation to open the regular season. Gausman threw an encouraging side session in camp on Saturday and will throw "three innings, 55 pitches and go from there" on Monday. Had he not experienced shoulder soreness earlier in spring training, he would have been the team's Opening Day starter. Barring a setback on Monday, Gausman is lined up to start the series opener against the Houston Astros. The 33-year-old is a fantasy ace when he's healthy, but the fact that he probably won't be properly stretched out early on makes him avoidable in DFS contests to begin the season.