2 hours agoSt. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (knee) left the Opening Day game on Thursday against the Toronto Blue Jays with a noticeable limp after he was hit in the right knee by a pitch while catching. Andrew Knizner is entering the game in his place. Fantasy managers will want to check back for updates on Contreras, but hopefully it's nothing serious. Before leaving, the 30-year-old backstop went 2-for-4 with a strikeout. Contreras signed a five-year, $87.5 million deal to stay in the National League Central after previously playing for the Chicago Cubs. He's one of the best hitting catchers in baseball, so hopefully he won't miss too much time.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Belleville News - Jeff Jones

2 hours agoOakland Athletics outfielder Esteury Ruiz is starting in center field and batting ninth on Opening Day on Thursday night against the Los Angeles Angels and right-hander Shohei Ohtani. Ruiz has a clear path to the starting job in center field for the rebuilding A's after they traded Cristian Pache to the Philadelphia Phillies. He'll have a limited fantasy ceiling at the bottom of the order, but Ruiz should be plenty valuable in mixed fantasy leagues for his speed on the basepaths. The 24-year-old hit just .171 in his first 36 major-league plate appearances with the San Diego Padres and Milwaukee Brewers in 2022, but he also stole 85 bases in 114 minor-league games.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

2 hours agoNew York Yankees pitcher Colten Brewer is being added to the team instead of being reassigned to the Tampa Bay Rays minor leagues. Brewer will be added to the Yankees' 40-man roster and likely the 26-man as well. He will act as the 13th pitcher for New York. Brewer pitched to a 0.00 ERA this spring but has a 5.04 career ERA, so he won't be called upon for high leverage situations for the Yankees and can be left alone for fantasy purposes.--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Marc Topkin

2 hours agoColorado Rockies outfielder Jurickson Profar is not with the team for Opening Day. He is not able to be replaced on the active roster. Profar just signed with the Rockies two weeks ago and had visa issues resolved two days ago. He didn't play in any Spring Training games for the Rockies, though he did play for Team Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic. It's not known when Profar will join the team, but when he does, he will be a decent deeper league option while playing half his games at Coors Field.--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Danielle Allentuck

3 hours agoOakland Athletics pitcher JP Sears will get the call to begin the season as the No. 5 starter. Paul Blackburn and Drew Rucinski will open the season on the IL, opening the spot for Sears. The lefty pitched to a 3.86 ERA over 70 innings pitched for the Yankees and A's last season. He started 11 games, pitching in 17 total. His ERA+ of 99 and FIP of 4.21 were more telling of his abilities. It's not known how long he'll keep a spot in the rotation, but he shouldn't be rushed to grab.--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Matt Kawahara

3 hours agoAtlanta Braves starting pitchers Ian Anderson and Bryce Elder are options to start next Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Braves managers Brian Snitker said Max Fried will definitely miss the start against the Cards. Kyle Wright isn't eligible to come off the IL until April 11, so he's not an option. With Wright due back shortly, Anderson or Elder may only get one start this time around. It's hard to say either has streaming potential against a good Cardinals lineup, but both pitchers have had success in the majors. You could do worse if you're in dire need.--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Mark Bowman

3 hours agoMilwaukee Brewers third baseman Luis Urias (hamstring) limped off the field after a ground out in the ninth inning of Opening Day with a left hamstring injury. Urias started at third base and was hitting sixth for the Brewers Thursday. He was 0-for-4 on the day. More testing will come in the next couple of days to get a better understanding of the severity of the injury. Urias was a popular late-round pick with upside in drafts but this is a troubling sign to begin his season.--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Adam McCalvy

3 hours agoColorado Rockies closer Daniel Bard was placed on the injured list Thursday due to anxiety. It's unclear how long Bard will be out, but his mental health is the most important thing here. Bard was struggling in Spring Training but was still set to be the Rockies closer to begin the year after earning 34 saves last season. Hopefully he feels better soon and regains his form. In the meantime, Brad Hand and Pierce Johnson could be looking at more save situations for Colorado.--Justin Raffone - RotoBallerSource: Danielle Allentuck

4 hours agoAtlanta Braves manager Brian Snitker said that left-hander Max Fried (hamstring) will likely go on the injured list after straining his hamstring on Opening Day on Thursday against the Washington Nationals. It wasn't the start that Fried's fantasy managers were hoping for, as he made it through just 3 1/3 innings before departing with the injury in the 7-2 win. The 29-year-old southpaw gave up four hits and an earned run while walking none and striking out two in the outing before leaving with a trainer. Fantasy managers will have to look elsewhere while stashing Fried in an IL spot for the month of April. It's unclear who will take Fried's spot in Atlanta's starting rotation.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution - Justin Toscano

4 hours agoWith New York Mets starting pitcher Justin Verlander (shoulder) opening the year on the 15-day injured list, right-hander Tylor Megill will now start on Saturday against the Miami Marlins. The 27-year-old now becomes an attractive pickup in deeper leagues and a potential streamer this weekend. However, he'll need to pitch better than he did last year and this spring to keep his spot in the starting rotation for however long Verlander is out. Megill had a 5.13 ERA (3.77 FIP), 1.25 WHIP and 25.5 percent strikeout rate in 47 1/3 innings over 15 outings (nine starts) for the Mets in his second big-league season in 2022. He gave up 10 runs (seven earned) on 14 hits while walking 13 and striking out 12 over 17 innings in Grapefruit League action.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Newsday - Tim Healey

5 hours agoLos Angeles Dodgers right-hander Ryan Pepiot (oblique) is starting the 2023 regular season on the 15-day injured list with a left oblique strain, and Michael Grove will take his place on the Opening Day roster. It's a bummer for fantasy managers that already scooped up Pepiot in deeper leagues to begin the season. Oblique injuries are usually difficult to return from for pitchers, so Pepiot could miss the first couple months of the year. Grove now becomes streamer-worthy in fantasy leagues, and he'll have a very favorable matchup in his first start of the year on Monday at home against the Colorado Rockies.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Los Angeles Time - Jack Harris

5 hours agoArizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is starting in center field and is hitting seventh in the batting order on Opening Day on Thursday night against left-hander Julio Urias and the Los Angeles Dodgers. It's not where fantasy managers want to see Carroll hitting, but he'll most likely hit higher in the lineup on a regular basis against right-handed pitchers. Kyle Lewis is serving as Arizona's designated hitter on Thursday and is hitting leadoff. Fantasy managers are hoping that the 22-year-old Carroll can carry over his hot spring training performance -- .370 batting average (17-for-46) with six doubles, three triples, seven RBI and five stolen bases in 17 games -- into the regular season, but the matchup against Urias isn't a good one.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

5 hours agoChicago White Sox outfielder Oscar Colas is not in the team's starting lineup on Opening Day on Thursday. Instead, Romy Gonzalez will get the start in right field and bat ninth against the Houston Astros and left-hander Framber Valdez. Eloy Jimenez is serving as the designated hitter and is batting cleanup for Chicago. Colas should be the team's primary right fielder against right-handed pitching in 2023, but Gonzalez will get the nod to kick off the 2023 regular season. Gonzalez hit just .222 (10-for-45) in 20 spring training games, but he also had five home runs and 10 RBI, so he'll give the Pale Hose some pop at the bottom of the lineup. For DFS purposes, though, the 26-year-old will be a boom/bust play.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Baseball Press

5 hours agoHouston Astros right-hander Hunter Brown (back) said he is starting on Monday against the Detroit Tigers. General manager Dana Brown said that Brown was sitting at 94-98 mph with his fastball during his simulated game on Wednesday. "His cutter was back," Brown said. The 24-year-old has been dealing with lower-back tightness, but the injury wasn't serious and he'll be able to take his first turn in the rotation for the regular season. The team's top prospect, per MLB Pipeline, should be rostered in all fantasy formats with a full-time role in Houston's starting rotation despite posting a 5.00 ERA in four Grapefruit League starts this spring. Brown has the potential to be a dominant young starter with premium velocity on his fastball and a power curveball.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome

5 hours agoHouston Astros second baseman Jose Altuve (thumb) and outfielder Michael Brantley (shoulder) are both starting the 2023 season on the 10-day injured list. Pitchers Blake Taylor, Parker Mushinski and Lance McCullers Jr. are also starting on the 15-day injured list. The Astros are optimistic that Altuve can make his season debut before June after fracturing his right thumb in the World Baseball Classic. With the All-Star second baseman on the shelf, Mauricio Dubon is starting at the keystone on Opening Day and is batting ninth. Altuve needs to be stashed in all fantasy leagues. Brantley missed all of spring training after having shoulder surgery late last year, and he's expected to miss all of April.--Keith Hernandez - RotoBallerSource: Houston Chronicle - Chandler Rome