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.

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler will begin a rehab assignment and is scheduled to pitch 4-5 innings, according to manager Dave Roberts. The skipper added that it's "reasonable" Buehler will need around four rehab outings before returning to the big club. The 29-year-old missed the entire 2023 season after undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in August of 2022. Unsurprisingly, the Dodgers have proceeded with caution with Buehler and have brought him along slowly this spring. The righty was enduring a down 2022 season prior to the procedure with a 4.02 ERA in 12 starts, a full run above his 3.02 career mark. Add in a career 20.6% K-BB% and Buehler is an excellent injury stash and should be rostered in all formats upon his return.

Seattle Mariners designated hitter/catcher Mitch Haniger was scratched from Friday's starting lineup, although a reason for the removal has not been released at this time. Dominic Canzone has been added to the lineup and will man left field while Mitch Haniger will slide into Garver's DH spot. Garver doubled in his four trips to the plate in Thursday's Opening Day 6-4 loss to the Red Sox. The veteran has long provided big-time power in limited duty, something he did in the 2023 season with 19 home runs and an .870 OPS in just 87 games and 344 trips to the plate as a member of the World Champion Texas Rangers. ATC projects 22 more homers and a healthy 11.5% BB% from the 33-year-old as the Mariners' primary DH in the 2023 season.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers was scratched due to shoulder soreness prior to Friday's contest against the Seattle Mariners. The star infielder homered and doubled on Opening Day Thursday but quickly hits the sidelines just 24 hours later. Bobby Dalbec will take over at third base and hit eighth against Mariners right-hander George Kirby. The 27-year-old had yet another big season in 2023, hitting .271 with 33 home runs, 90 runs, 100 RBI, five stolen bases, and an .851 OPS across a hefty 656 trips to the plate. The Red Sox won their season opener by a 6-4 score on Thursday and will look to stay clean behind right-hander Nick Pivetta on Friday.

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Joc Pederson will slide into the starting lineup on Friday. The lefty slugger will play after sitting out the season opener with a left-handed starter opposing them in that one. Pederson will serve as the designated hitter and bat fifth versus right-hander Cal Quantrill on Friday. The left-handed slugger looks to join in on the fun after watching his team put up 16 runs in the season opener. Fantasy managers who have Pederson rostered should make sure to get him in their lineups.

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (foot) is scheduled to undergo an MRI on Friday. The veteran slugger was recently placed on the injured list due to a foot issue. The good news is that LeMahieu was able to throw and hit off a tee on Thursday. The team will likely wait until after the MRI results are in before they give another update on his status. Fantasy managers should expect the team to have those results this weekend. The hope is that LeMahieu is available in roughly a week or so. Oswaldo Cabrera figures to see more playing time with LeMahieu sidelined.

Philadelphia Phillies relief pitcher Jose Alvarado put together a horrendous outing during Friday's season opener versus the Atlanta Braves. The left-hander was smacked around for five runs on three hits and a pair of walks in just 2/3 of an inning. This sucks to see for Phillies fans after starter Zack Wheeler threw six shutout innings. After that, right-hander Jeff Hoffman gave up a pair of runs which tied the game. Phillies manager Rob Thompson turned to Alvarado after that and he couldn't hold his own. Despite this awful outing, Alvarado should still be in the mix for saves in Philly this season.

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Danny Jansen (wrist) is making solid strides in his recovery process. On Friday, it was reported that Jansen had begun swinging a bat again. It's uncertain if it was dry swings or off a tee. Regardless, it's great to see Jansen back out there swinging again. He has been able to play long toss as well. The team has not given a timetable for Jansen's return to the field. He is working his way back from a fractured wrist, so it could take some time. While he's gone, Alejandro Kirk and Brian Serven figure to split up the playing time behind the plate.

Left-hander Jordan Montgomery said he is targeting April 19 versus the San Francisco Giants for his first start with the Arizona Diamondbacks. The D-backs officially agreed to terms with Montgomery on a one-year deal on Friday that includes a player option. He has been optioned to Triple-A Reno and will build up his arm before hopefully debuting in late April. It's no surprise that the 31-year-old southpaw isn't ready for the start of the regular season after missing all of spring training. He could get off to a slow start with his new team as well, but Montgomery should already be rostered in all fantasy leagues after helping lead the Texas Rangers to their first World Series championship last fall. He's had a below-average strikeout rate in his career, but he limits walks and has been durable for fantasy managers.

The New York Yankees acquired right-hander JT Brubaker (elbow) from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday in exchange for a player to be named later, according to a source. Brubaker will give the Yankees some additional starting-pitching depth, but not until later this year while he recovers from Tommy John surgery. The 30-year-old has been nothing special in his three big-league seasons with the Pirates, going a combined 9-28 with a 4.99 ERA (4.43 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with 109 walks and 324 strikeouts in 315 2/3 innings over 63 appearances (61 starts). While he probably won't be anything more than a spot starter in the Bronx, the move to the American League East is also a downgrade for the former sixth-round pick in 2015 out of Akron.

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.

The Los Angeles Dodgers signed free-agent left-hander Drew Pomeranz to a minor-league deal on Friday, and he's set to be assigned to Triple-A Oklahoma City. The nine-year major-league veteran reliever has been beleaguered by injuries the last two years. Pomeranz was with the Los Angeles Angels in spring training but was recently released. The 35-year-old southpaw hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021 with the San Diego Padres due to injuries, when he was outstanding with a 1.75 ERA (3.01 FIP) and 1.13 WHIP with 10 walks and 30 strikeouts in 25 2/3 relief innings. He'll bring plenty of relief experience to the organization, but nobody should be expecting him to contribute much at the major-league level given his struggles with injuries in recent seasons.

The Chicago Cubs signed free-agent catcher Curt Casali to a minor-league deal on Friday. Casali comes to the Cubbies after being released by the Miami Marlins earlier this week. The 35-year-old veteran backstop will begin his 2024 campaign at Triple-A Iowa while serving as organizational catching depth behind big-leaguers Yan Gomes and Miguel Amaya. The former 10th-round pick of the Detroit Tigers in 2011 out of Vanderbilt is nowhere near the fantasy radar right now. He hit .175/.290/.200 with no home runs and six RBI in just 40 big-league games with the Cincinnati Reds last year and has a career slash line of .200/.314/.380 with 47 homers and 154 RBI in 502 games over 10 seasons with four different organizations.

Philadelphia Phillies infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield was not in the starting lineup for the team's season opener on Friday against the division-rival Atlanta Braves, but with the Phillies facing lefties on Saturday and Sunday, Merrifield will likely be in the lineup, according to manager Rob Thomson. Merrifield told Thomson before signing in the offseason that, "I'll work myself into the lineup." The three-time All-Star hit .272/.318/.382 in 2023 with the Toronto Blue Jays with 11 home runs, 67 RBI and 26 stolen bases in 145 games in a bounce-back year. The short side of a platoon role in Philly hurts his overall upside for fantasy managers in deeper leagues, but Merrifield could be more efficient in 2024 if he's mostly facing lefties. He's a .289 career hitter in 526 games against southpaws.

Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Merrill Kelly will look to keep up the excellent work at home when he takes on the visiting Colorado Rockies on Friday. Kelly has long pitched much better at Chase Field than anywhere else as he sports a 3.17 ERA alongside a 24.3% K% in his career at home versus a 4.48 ERA and 19.6% K% on the road. However, his dominance at home increased in the 2023 season when he pitched to a 2.59 ERA and a 29% K% in 93 2/3 frames at Chase Field. The 35-year-old is an excellent fantasy option on Friday against a Rockies team that ranked 29th with a .285 wOBA on the road and also dead last with a 27.3% K% outside of Coors Field.

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.