Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (thumb) had an MRI exam on his sore right thumb, but nothing serious was found, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Scherzer is playing catch in camp on Thursday and will be back on a mound on Friday or Saturday. It's good news for an aging pitcher that has dealt with injuries in recent seasons as he nears the end of his career. The 40-year-old three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star was scratched from his Cactus League start this week but has avoided any serious damage and should be ready for Opening Day later this month. Although he remains an injury risk at this point of his career after making only nine starts in 2024 due to injuries, Scherzer can be a value pick in deeper fantasy drafts if he can stay on the field. So far in nine innings in spring training, he's looked more like his old self with 14 strikeouts and no walks.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) threw out to around 105 feet in camp on Thursday. He still has two weeks until Opening Day, and although it's possible he'll need extra time to ramp up his throwing all the way, he's in a good spot given how complicated rehab from shoulder surgery can be, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. The 28-year-old continues to be up in the air for the start of the 2025 season after having surgery on his right shoulder in September of last year. He has yet to play the field yet in Grapefruit League action but has gone 5-for-16 with three home runs as the designated hitter, which is a great sign for him at the plate after having offseason surgery. Varsho's DH role could continue early into the season if he's not ready to play the outfield. He is RotoBaller's No. 90-ranked fantasy outfielder, but a bounce-back is possible if his down poor 2024 was related to his injured shoulder.

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Miami Marlins right-hander Edward Cabrera (finger) left his Grapefruit League start early on Thursday against the Houston Astros due to a blister on his right middle finger, according to Marlins Radio's Stephen Strom. Cabrera only threw 12 pitches (two strikes) in the abbreviated outing. In addition to what has been a rough spring results-wise, the blister issue has been a recurring one for the 26-year-old hurler, and it could cause him to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list. Cabrera has allowed 13 runs on 11 hits while walking four in just 4 2/3 Grapefruit League innings so far. But if he put his newest blister issue behind him in the next couple of weeks, he will be locked into Miami's starting rotation. He has displayed a slightly above-average strikeout rate in his time in the big leagues, but injury concerns and poor command and control have Cabrera outside of RotoBaller's top-100 starting pitchers.

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Boston Red Sox right-hander Lucas Giolito (hamstring) will begin the season on the injured list, according to manager Alex Cora. "We're going to be tested right away," Cora said. Giolito was pulled from his Grapefruit League start on Tuesday against the Philadelphia Phillies with what turned out to be a low-grade left-hamstring strain. It's not a serious injury, but it means the BoSox will now open the year without Giolito, Brayan Bello (shoulder) or Kutter Crawford (knee) in their rotation. With that trio of starting-pitcher injuries, both Quinn Priester and Richard Fitts appear likely to open the year in Boston's rotation. Giolito's fantasy value continues to drop after he missed all of the 2024 campaign due to a torn right UCL that required an internal-brace procedure. The good news is his new injury isn't arm-related, but he should still be avoided in 12-team mixed leagues.

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Although an MRI exam on Texas Rangers left-hander Cody Bradford's (elbow) sore left elbow came back clean, he is going to need to start the season on the injured list, according to manager Bruce Bochy. He will be shut down from throwing for up to 10 days to try and get the soreness out. General manager Chris Young said Bradford felt pain in his elbow during his Cactus League start last Thursday. The 27-year-old southpaw had a 1.40 ERA last year when he first landed on the IL on April 14 with nagging back and rib injuries and finished the year with a 3.54 ERA in 76 1/3 innings. It's unclear how much time Bradford might miss to open the 2025 regular season, but his injury now opens up a spot in Texas' Opening Day starting rotation for one of Jack Leiter or Kumar Rocker. Either pitcher would have some appeal for strikeout upside in mixed fantasy leagues if they win a rotation spot.

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Texas Rangers right-hander Jacob deGrom (illness) has been scratched from his scheduled Cactus League start on Thursday against the San Francisco Giants due to a stomach virus, according to manager Bruce Bochy. Hopefully, the 36-year-old veteran will be able to get back on the mound in a few days for what will only be his second spring training game after he threw 31 pitches in his debut last weekend. The two-time Cy Young winner still has the stuff to be a fantasy ace if he's healthy, but the caveat is that he's started only nine games in the last two seasons due to arm injuries and will be eased in early in 2025 to preserve his health throughout the season. Additionally, deGrom plans to back off a bit on his velocity in order to try and preserve his health. deGrom hasn't gone over 100 innings pitched in a season since 2019 with the New York Mets.

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New York Mets infielder Brett Baty is projected to open the year at second base while batting eighth, according to MLB.com's Anthony DiComo. Regular second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique) is being shut down for seven to 10 days and is likely to open the year on the injured list, which could open the door for Baty to get regular playing time at the keystone in Queens. The 25-year-old started 27 games at second last year at Triple-A Syracuse, although he's never played the position in the big leagues. Another scenario would include both Baty and Luisangel Acuna splitting second base duties until McNeil is healed up. Baty, one of the team's former top prospects, hasn't panned out yet, although he did see some progress with a lowered strikeout rate in his limited playing time in 2024. When everyone is healthy in New York, Baty will find it hard to see the field regularly.

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Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (illness) is back at second base and batting leadoff on Thursday in the Cactus League game against the San Francisco Giants. A stomach bug is going around the Rangers' clubhouse in camp, and the 34-year-old veteran wasn't feeling good enough to play on Wednesday. He's now back in there a day later and is hoping to pick it up offensively with Opening Day just several weeks away. In 12 spring games to this point, Semien has gone 6-for-32 (.188) with two home runs, a triple, three RBI and three runs scored in 34 plate appearances. It was a down year for him at the plate last year, too, by his standards as he slashed .237/.308/.391 with 23 home runs, 74 RBI and eight steals in 159 games. Semien's underlying metrics didn't dip, though, so he's still a strong second base target in fantasy that has been one of the most durable players in the league.

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New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea (oblique) resumed throwing two days ago, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Manaea's follow-up MRI exam came back clean, so he's essentially re-starting his spring training program after being shut down with a strained right oblique earlier in camp. It means that the 33-year-old veteran southpaw is right on schedule. He still has a ways to go as he builds his arm up for a starter's workload, but barring a setback, he could be ready to rejoin the Mets' rotation at some point in April. Nobody really expected much from Manaea in Queens in 2024, but he pitched very well thanks to a lowered arm slot and threw more strikes, too, finishing 12-6 with a 3.47 ERA, 1.08 WHIP and 184:63 K:BB in 181 2/3 regular-season innings over 32 starts. It remains to be seen if he can repeat that success in 2025, but he's at least a little cheaper now that he'll begin the year on the injured list.

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As expected, Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (quadriceps) is back in the Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday against the Tampa Bay Rays after being pulled following a first-inning triple on Wednesday. Abrams is back at the 6 and is batting leadoff after experiencing tightness in both of his quadriceps muscles on Wednesday while rounding the bases. After a strong start to last season, the 24-year-old looks primed for another strong start in 2025 while hitting .300 with a home run in 30 at-bats this spring. However, Abrams tailed off in the second half in 2024 and was sent to the minors for staying out past curfew on a trip to Chicago. His chase rate is perhaps his biggest red flag, but Abrams still offers enough power/speed upside to be considered a top-10 fantasy shortstop. He was a first-time All-Star last year and had 20 home runs and 31 stolen bases in 138 games played.

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New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (knee) is serving as the designated hitter and is in the two-hole for Thursday's Grapefruit League contest versus the Boston Red Sox. Nimmo appears to be past his plantar-fasciitis issues from last year, but he was brought along slowly early in camp and then dealt with right-knee soreness. As a result, this is the 31-year-old veteran's second spring training game. Nimmo still has several weeks to get ready for Opening Day and has time to work his way back onto the field in the outfield. The former first-rounder has dealt with his fair share of injuries in recent seasons, but he's remarkably still managed to play in at least 151 games in each of the last three years. He also had career-highs in home runs (23), RBI (90) and steals (15) while scoring 88 runs in 2024. The injuries are a bit worrisome, but Nimmo is still a top-50 fantasy outfielder in this lineup.

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Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Lucas Giolito (hamstring) has a low-grade hamstring strain. The right-hander suffered this injury during Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status. Giolito said, "he feels good and his work will be based on how he feels." However, he is not sure if he can make his next start. Giolito was unable to pitch during the entire 2024 season after undergoing an internal brace procedure during last year's spring training. In 2023, Giolito logged 184 1/3 innings with a 4.88 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP. He tallied 204 punchouts and held a high 9.2 percent walk-rate. He also generated a modest 4.61 xERA with a low 36.1 percent ground-ball rate. If he were to miss time early in the season, fantasy managers should expect Cooper Criswell, Richard Fitts, and Quinn Priester to have increased opportunities.

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Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes (side) has resumed full baseball activities. Pirates senior director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk noted, "We envision him being available for game activity in the coming days as well." Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but should expect him to return to the starting lineup very soon. Hayes has been dealing with left side tightness over the past two weeks. When healthy, he should have an everyday role as the starting third baseman. Last season, the former 32nd-overall pick held a .233/.283/.290 line with four home runs and 11 stolen bases. He generated a weak .279 xwOBA but showed a strong eye at the plate as he held an 18.9 percent strikeout rate. Fantasy managers should view him as a depth corner infield option that has more value in points leagues given his low strikeout rate.

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New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil (oblique) suffered a low-grade oblique strain and will not participate in baseball activities for the next 7-to-10 days. In addition, manager Carlos Mendoza noted that McNeil could be sidelined for 3-to-4 weeks. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status but given this report, he will likely miss the start of the season. He may also be placed on the injured list if he were to miss several weeks of action. Last season, McNeil held a .238/.308/.384 line across 129 games. He tallied 26 doubles and swiped five bags. The 32-year-old won the NL batting title in 2022 with a .326 AVG. As a result, fantasy managers should expect Luisangel Acuna to likely operate as the team's starting second baseman at the start of the regular season. Donovan Wilson and Brett Baty could also be in the mix for opportunities.

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The St. Louis Cardinals have optioned right-handed pitching prospect Tekoah Roby to Double-A Springfield. The 23-year-old enjoyed a nice spring training where he tallied 10 punchouts with a 3.00 ERA and a 0.89 WHIP across nine innings. While he was not expected to make the Opening Day roster, this strong showing could have opened the door for a nearly promotion to Triple-A. Last season, Roby logged 33 1/3 innings with Double-A Springfield before being shut down with a shoulder injury. During this stint, he held a 6.75 ERA with a 1.65 WHIP. During the 2023 campaign, the former third-round selection held a 4.63 ERA with a 1.20 WHIP across 58 1/3 innings of work at the Double-A level. Dynasty managers should monitor his progress as he may only need a brief stint at Double-A before making his Triple-A debut.

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Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) was hitting in the batting cage. The first baseman also fielded ground balls and ran. This is a great sign as this is the first time the 33-year-old swung a bat since suffering this injury. Walker underwent an MRI on his oblique but did not suffer a strain. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but it appears he will likely not be in danger of missing Opening Day. Earlier in the offseason, Walker signed a three-year deal with the Astros worth $60 million. Last season, Walker held a .251/.335/.468 slash line with 26 home runs in Arizona. He generated an elite .351 xwOBA, 13.3 percent barrel rate, and 48.0 percent hard-hit rate, which were all well above the average marks. When healthy, fantasy managers should expect Walker to serve as the everyday first baseman in Houston. He should be viewed as a solid No. 1 first baseman in all formats given his high-upside power.

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Houston Astros third base/outfield prospect Cam Smith is getting the starting nod in right field on Thursday. The Astros have provided their top prospect with opportunities to learn the outfield during camp. This is his first time covering right field in a Grapefruit League game. The Astros acquired the former 14th-overall pick in a package that sent Kyle Tucker to the Chicago Cubs. In addition, Smith is slated to bat cleanup in a lineup that contains all major league players, which suggests he could be in the running to make the Opening Day roster. Through nine games this spring, Smith has held a stellar .450/.560/.850 line with a triple and two home runs. Last summer, Smith appeared in 32 games in the Cubs system and posted a .313/.396/.609 line. If Smith makes the Opening Day roster, he is worth taking a late-round flier on in all standard leagues.

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Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (back) was scratched from Wednesday's lineup due to "lower-to-middle back pain." Manager Terry Francona noted that Stephenson will be "fine" and that it did not make sense to have him suit up. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status as the team may opt to keep him sidelined for a few days. However, it appears this injury is not serious and will not put him in danger of missing Opening Day. While the 28-year-old kept out of action, Jose Trevino should see most of the catching duties. Last season, Stephenson enjoyed a career-season as he went deep 19 times and held a .258/.338/.444 line. He generated a strong 43.9 percent hard-hit rate with a 90.2 mph average exit velocity. He should be viewed as a solid low-end No. 1 catcher in all formats playing in a favorable hitting park.

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Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Henry Davis is projected to be the team's No. 2 backstop on the Opening Day roster. Davis is a former top prospect but has yet to take the next step in the major leagues. He was selected with the first overall pick in the 2021 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut in 2023 and held a modest .214/.302/.351 line across 62 games. Then, in 2024, Davis appeared in just 37 games in Pittsburgh and had a lower .144/.242/.212 slash line. However, Alex Stumpf of MLB.com noted that given Davis' strong play in spring training, he has put himself above Endy Rodriguez and Jason Delay. During camp, Davis has held a strong .286/.348/.524 slash line with two doubles and one home run. The Louisville product has also seen time in the outfield which will provide the team with additional defensive flexibility. Fantasy managers in deeper two-catcher formats should monitor Davis' progression as he could be worth a late-round flier if he continues to produce in spring training.

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Kansas City Royals left-handed pitcher Daniel Lynch IV has put himself in the competition for the final spot in the rotation. According to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, his strong showing in camp has put him in the conversation alongside Kris Bubic, who was initially viewed as a "frontrunner." During camp, Lynch has tossed 10 innings to the tune of a 1.80 ERA and 0.90 WHIP. He has tallied nine punchouts and not served up a free pass. Last season, Lynch logged 43 1/3 innings with a 3.32 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP. He made three starts but was deployed primarily out of the bullpen. He generated an elite .213 xBA with a strong 46.2 percent ground-ball rate. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor Lynch's progression during camp as he could be a viable target to improve your WHIP ratio if he begins the season in the rotation.

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