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.

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 Colorado Rockies placed right-hander Daniel Bard (knee) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday after he missed all of spring training following a cleanup procedure on his left knee in the middle of February. In addition to his knee ailment, the 38-year-old veteran has received platelet-rich plasma injections in his right forearm in the offseason. Bard is improving and could be ready to face live hitters in the second week of April. There's a chance that he could make his 2024 season debut before the end of April if he doesn't suffer any setbacks while on a minor-league rehab assignment. Bard again struggled with anxiety last year after recording 54 saves in 2021-22, and Justin Lawrence and Tyler Kinley are now Colorado's primary options for saves, so fantasy managers can ignore Bard.

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.

The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed veteran catcher Yasmani Grandal (foot) on the 15-day injured list with plantar fasciitis. The veteran came over from the White Sox this offseason to mentor fellow backstop Henry Davis. At age 35, Grandal is no longer the defensive specialist he once was and his offense has also started to decline. There is no timetable for his return, but he only played in two Grapefruit League games this spring and will need to shake off the rust before returning to the big leagues. Even when healthy, Grandal can be left on the wire in almost all formats. Catcher Jason Delay will take over the backup duties to Henry Davis with Grandal sidelined.

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.

The New York Yankees officially placed right-hander Gerrit Cole (elbow) on the 60-day injured list on Thursday with right-elbow inflammation. Cole has avoided structural damage in his right elbow, but he's still expected to miss at least one to two months. It remains to be seen if last year's American League Cy Young winner will be able to start a throwing program in a couple of weeks as he slowly begins to build his arm back up. The 33-year-old needs to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues because he's one of the very best arms in all of baseball when he's healthy, but there's really no telling how much he'll pitch in 2024 or how effective he'll be if he does. And of course the Yankees aren't going to rush their ace back too soon.

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Anthony Rendon is hitting leadoff for the Angels on Opening Day on Thursday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-hander Corbin Burnes. Manager Ron Washington experimented with using Rendon in the top spot in the batting order in spring training, and now he'll be there for the first game that counts in 2024. The 33-year-old gets the nod to start for the Halos for lack of better options, really. Rendon doesn't have much speed but does possess good plate discipline with an 11 percent career walk rate, so the Angels will be hoping he can set the table for Mike Trout and company. Rendon could boost his counting stats if he sticks at leadoff all year, but he should really only be concerned about staying healthy, as he has played in a total of 148 games in the last three years.

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.

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 Miami Marlins acquired right-hander Burch Smith from the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday in exchange for cash considerations. Smith had an assignment clause in his minor-league contract, and the Rays didn't have a spot for him on their major-league roster out of spring training. The Marlins selected Smith's contract from Triple-A Jacksonville after the trade. The 33-year-old last pitched in the majors in 2021 with the Oakland Athletics, posting a 5.40 ERA (4.21 FIP) and 1.38 WHIP with 11 walks and 28 strikeouts in 43 1/3 relief innings. He'll be completely off the fantasy radar in what's expected to be a long-relief role for the Fish. In five big-league seasons, Smith has a poor 6.03 ERA, a 1.56 WHIP, one save, 87 walks and 184 strikeouts in 191 innings pitched.

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.

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.

Atlanta Braves designated hitter Marcell Ozuna hit his second home run of the spring on Monday in a 4-0 Grapefruit League win over the Twins. Ozuna had started off the spring hot but his bat had gone cold as of late, going 2-for-17 over his last six games. The 33-year-old is still hitting .306 in the spring, going 15-for-49 with two doubles, two home runs, four RBI (three of which came on Monday's HR), and four runs scored. He's got just two walks compared to 16 strikeouts which is a bit concerning, but as long as he keeps hitting home runs that can be tolerated. The Braves have their Grapefruit finale on Tuesday before opening the season Thursday against the Phillies in Philadelphia.