Willson Contreras Leaves Early Thursday With Knee Injury: St. 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 19:34:47

Esteury Ruiz Hitting Ninth On Opening Day: Oakland 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 19:06:55

Colten Brewer Added To Yankees Roster: New 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:57:11

Jurickson Profar Not With Rockies For Opening Day: Colorado 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:42:05

JP Sears To Start Tuesday: Oakland 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:36:19

Ian Anderson Or Bryce Elder Could Start Wednesday: Atlanta 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:28:32

Luis Urias Injures Hamstring: Milwaukee 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:19:18

Daniel Bard Placed On Injured List: Colorado 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 18:05:06

Max Fried Likely To Land On Injured List: Atlanta 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 17:05:16

Tylor Megill To Start On Saturday Against Marlins: With 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:51:04

Ryan Pepiot Put On IL, Michael Grove To Start In Rotation: Los 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:26:56

Corbin Carroll Hitting Seventh Against Dodgers: Arizona 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:21:55

Oscar Colas Not In Opening Day Lineup: Chicago 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:17:37

Hunter Brown Says He'll Start On Monday: Houston 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:13:11

Jose Altuve Avoids 60-Day Injured List: Houston 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. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:07:51

Yordan Alvarez Won't Play Every Day Initially: Houston Astros general manager Dana Brown said on Thursday that outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hand) won't play every day to start the 2023 regular season. Alvarez is starting in left field and is hitting third in the batting order on Opening Day on Thursday against right-hander Dylan Cease and the Chicago White Sox, but he'll be eased into action after missing most of spring training with soreness in his left hand. The Astros would prefer to have the 25-year-old left-handed slugger healthy all year, and it makes sense for them to play it safe with star second baseman Jose Altuve (thumb) already sidelined. Alvarez needs to be in all starting fantasy lineups on Thursday. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 16:03:37

Jeremy Pena Leading Off On Opening Day: Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena is starting at the 6 and is hitting leadoff on Opening Day on Thursday against the Chicago White Sox and right-hander Dylan Cease. Pena should serve as the team's leadoff hitter until second baseman Jose Altuve (thumb) is able to return from a fractured right thumb. Batting in the leadoff spot will give Pena a slightly higher fantasy ceiling with more chances to get on base and score runs in a strong Astros lineup. The 25-year-old Dominican will be hoping to carry his hot spring hitting into the regular season, as he went 11-for-34 (.324) with two doubles, a triple, three home runs, nine RBI, nine runs scored and a stolen base in 11 Grapefruit League games. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 15:59:44

Max Fried Removed Early From Opening Day Start: Atlanta Braves pitcher Max Fried was removed from his Opening Day start against the Washington Nationals with an apparent hamstring injury. Fried lasted just 3 1/3 innings, yielding one earned run on four hits with two strikeouts against zero walks. It's a tough break for Fried but also the Braves who are without fellow starters Kyle Wright and Mike Soroka to begin the season. Fried has been remarkably durable in his big-league career, making at least 28 starts in each of the last three full seasons while starting 11 of the Braves' 60 games during the shortened 2020 campaign. More information should be made available following this afternoon's contest. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:55:36

Brendan Donovan Leading Off For Cardinals On Opening Day: St. Louis Cardinals utility player Brendan Donovan is batting first and playing second base for the club on Opening Day versus the Toronto Blue Jays. The versatile Donovan impressed in his big-league debut last season, hitting .281 with five homers, two steals, and a .773 OPS across 126 games while seeing time at every position save for pitcher and catcher in 2022. While he hasn't displayed much in terms of power and speed throughout his minor-league career, Donovan boasts elite plate discipline and contact skills. His 12.8% BB% nearly matched his 15% K% from last season with St. Louis while he posted identical 12.3% marks in each department across 16 Triple-A games a season ago. Donovan's clearest path to playing time is at second base but he is fantasy eligible all over the field. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:49:53

Josh Jung Hitting Fifth On Opening Day: Texas Rangers third baseman Josh Jung will hit fifth in the batting order on Opening Day against right-hander Aaron Nola and the Philadelphia Phillies. It's a big season upcoming for the former eighth overall pick as Jung should see nearly everyday action at third base if his bat can show up as advertised. The 25-year-old hit just .204 in his big-league debut last season but also slugged five homers while posting a strong .214 isolated power across 102 trips to the plate. Jung's 0.10 BB/K will need to gain significant improvement moving forward but he should get plenty of leash to show off his raw power for a Rangers team looking to jump back into contention in the 2023 campaign. - as of Thu, 30 Mar 2023 14:38:49