Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy will retreat to the bench for Friday's series opener in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies with left-hander Jesus Luzardo toeing the rubber. Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas will get the nod at the hot corner and will hit eighth against Luzardo, who he has one hit against in just two career at-bats. Muncy has been cold to begin the 2025 season offensively, although he did have a two-run double in Wednesday's walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves. Overall, the 34-year-old veteran has gone just 3-for-25 with a run scored and two RBI in his first seven games, so perhaps a day of rest will do him some good on the road. Rojas, 36, isn't really known for his exploits with the bat, so fantasy managers should look elsewhere at third base in DFS. He has one hit in his first 16 at-bats this year.

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Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) is making another minor-league rehab start on Friday for Triple-A Gwinnett, according to 929 The Game's Grant McAuley. Catcher Sean Murphy (rib) is expected to do the catching for Strider as he continues his own rehab assignment. Strider threw 60 pitches over three innings in his first rehab start for the Stripers and may only need to make one more rehab start after Friday's outing as long as he doesn't have a setback with his surgically-repaired right elbow. The 26-year-old had an internal-brace procedure almost exactly a year ago and is getting closer and closer to making his 2025 debut with the Braves. While Strider might be eased in initially in terms of his pitch count by the Braves, he needs to be stashed in all fantasy formats and could be a difference maker for fantasy rotations sooner than later.

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Atlanta Braves shortstop Orlando Arcia is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Miami Marlins at Truist Park. Nick Allen will instead make the start at the 6 and bat eighth against Marlins right-hander Max Meyer. Arcia started for the Braves in four of the first five games of the season but will now start on the bench on Friday for his third straight contest. The 30-year-old Venezuelan veteran has struggled at the plate, going 2-for-13 with no walks and five strikeouts in four games played, so the Braves will give Allen another chance. Allen has four hits (one double) in his first 11 plate appearances with an RBI and two stolen bases, but he's more of a defense-first player and should be considered a long shot for much production in DFS on Friday. Allen has never faced Meyer in his MLB career.

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Kansas City Royals outfielder Hunter Renfroe is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Baltimore Orioles at Kauffman Stadium. MJ Melendez is starting in right field and batting eighth, while Cavan Biggio is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth versus Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer. Melendez and Biggio have a combined 10 career at-bats against Kremer without a single hit. The 33-year-old Renfroe could find himself on the bench more frequently in 2025 if his bat is cold, regardless of whether he still has some power in his lumber. He's off to a rough 2-for-18 start with a double, three RBI, three walks and six strikeouts in 21 plate appearances over five contests. Outside of some modest power at this stage of his career with infrequent playing time, Renfroe is really only valuable in AL-only formats.

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Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis F. Castillo was officially called up from the minors on Friday and will make the start in San Francisco against the Giants at Oracle Park. It's the second straight game that the Mariners will start a pitcher named Luis Castillo. The 30-year-old Dominican made his major-league debut back in 2022 with the Detroit Tigers but only appeared in three games in relief that year, although he tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts. In his lone start with Triple-A Tacoma this year before being called up, Castillo allowed an earned run on two hits while walking two and striking out two in 5 2/3 frames. Castillo heads to Seattle with a 3.46 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 415 strikeouts and 131 walks in 11 minor-league seasons. Castillo spent the last two years pitching for Japan. Fantasy managers will want to avoid him in his first big-league start on Friday.

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Washington Nationals infielder Paul DeJong is not in the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks at Nationals Park. With DeJong starting on the bench, Jose Tena is starting at third base and will hit eighth against D-backs right-hander Brandon Pfaadt. DeJong has gotten off to a slow start in 2025 in his first year in the nation's capital, as he's gone just 4-for-18 with two doubles, two walks and 11 strikeouts in 20 plate appearances over six games played. Tena will get a chance after going 1-for-2 with a strikeout in just two games played in the early going. He has never faced Pfaadt in his career and isn't a recommended lineup option for DFS gamers on Friday. The 31-year-old DeJong should see most of the playing time at the hot corner for the Nats early this season, and he still has some notable pop, but he won't contribute in the average department with a lot of strikeouts.

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The Baltimore Orioles optioned outfielder Dylan Carlson to Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday's game against the Boston Red Sox to make room on the active roster for shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal), who was officially activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday. Carlson is the odd-man out for now with Henderson returning. The 26-year-old former top prospect of the St. Louis Cardinals only played in two games in the early going in his first year in Baltimore and went hitless in six plate appearances with an RBI, run scored, one walk and four strikeouts. In only 96 games in 2024 with the Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays, Carlson slashed just .209/.287/.277 with a career-worst .563 OPS, three home runs and 25 RBI in 265 plate appearances. With a crowded outfield in Baltimore, it's going to be difficult for Carlson to break through in 2025 as a post-hype prospect.

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Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (side) was activated off the 10-day injured list on Friday. The Orioles optioned outfielder Dylan Carlson to Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Henderson has been sidelined since February due to a right intercostal strain. However, the 23-year-old did not miss much time and will already return to the MLB roster. Henderson posted a .263 AVG with two home runs across a five-game rehab assignment with Triple-A Norfolk during the week. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on the Orioles' starting nine, but given that he was activated off the injured list, he will likely make his regular-season debut this evening. Last season, Henderson enjoyed an excellent campaign as he posted a .281/.364/.529 slash line with 37 home runs and 21 stolen bases. He generated an elite .374 xwOBA. If he returns on Friday, he will face Kansas City right-hander Seth Lugo.

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Toronto Blue Jays starting pitcher Max Scherzer (thumb) was unable to play catch on Friday. Earlier in the week, reports suggested that the 40-year-old could begin to throw on Friday. However, Scherzer will remain sidelined. Shi Davidi of Sportsnet reported that the team will continue to check on the veteran right-hander daily. Scherzer was dealing with a thumb injury during camp but was cleared to make his first start of the season. His start did not last long as he was removed from the contest after throwing just three innings. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, but should not expect him back in the majors for a few weeks. While Scherzer remains on the 15-day IL, Easton Lucas should continue to see starting opportunities.

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Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Erik Swanson (forearm) threw his first bullpen session on Friday since receiving a cortisone injection. Swanson opened the campaign on the 15-day injured list due to carpal tunnel syndrome in his right forearm. While he is still several weeks away from a return, this is a good sign to see him throwing on the mound. Last season, Swanson was only able to log 39 1/3 innings of work and held a high 5.03 ERA with a 1.27 WHIP. However, during the 2022 and 2023 campaigns, Swanson was a valuable high-leverage option in the bullpen. In 2022, Swanson enjoyed a career season, posting a stellar 1.68 ERA and 0.90 WHIP while tallying 14 holds. In 2023, Swanson tallied 29 holds across 66 2/3 innings of work. When healthy, he will be a viable target in leagues that reward holds.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) has been playing catch up to 165 feet but has not yet been cleared to throw in games. Varsho opened the regular season on the 15-day injured list as he is working his way back from shoulder surgery. However, Varsho was able to serve as the designated hitter during spring training. The coaching staff has noted that Varsho will only join the MLB roster when he is cleared to play defense. While he has been sidelined, prospect Alan Roden has seen playing time in the starting nine. Last season, Varsho saw most of his time in left and center field. Across 136 contests, the 28-year-old posted a .214/.293/.407 slash line with 18 long balls and 10 stolen bases. Varsho is worth monitoring as he will hold value in category formats given his ability to hit for power and steal bases.

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New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger (back) is not in the starting nine when they start a three-game set against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday afternoon. According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, he is dealing with a stiff back. Bellinger has been in the starting lineup in each of the first six games of the campaign. However, the 29-year-old has hit a bit of a skid over his last four, tallying just one hit with a 2:5 BB:K. Over the first two games of the season, Bellinger tallied four hits which was highlighted a three-hit four RBI game on March 29. Instead, Trent Grisham will get the starting nod in center field and bat in the seven-hole. Fantasy managers should expect Bellinger to return to the starting nine on Saturday if he does not face a setback when they face Pittsburgh southpaw Bailey Falter. Grisham is worth a look as a value play in DFS as he tallied three hits with a home run on Thursday evening.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers are promoting catcher Hunter Feduccia from Triple-A Oklahoma City to the majors. In a corresponding move, the Dodgers are placing first baseman Freddie Freeman (ankle) on the 10-day injured list. Feduccia received a brief taste of the major leagues last summer as he appeared in five games. Across this brief stint, Feduccia tallied four hits, scored two runs, and tallied one RBI. Through the first five games of the Triple-A regular season, Feduccia has been swinging a hot bat as he held a .357/.526/.643 slash line with a double and a long ball. Last summer, the former 12th-round selection spent the majority of the campaign at Triple-A and held a .284/.409/.428 line with six round-trippers. Fantasy managers should expect Feduccia to operate as a depth option behind the dish and not carry much standalone fantasy value.

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Colorado Rockies right-handed pitching prospect Chase Dollander will be called up to make his major-league debut on Sunday against the Athletics, according to DNVR's Patrick Lyons. Dollander, the team's top prospect and No. 24 in all of baseball per MLB Pipeline, didn't have to wait long to get the call after narrowly missing out on an Opening Day rotation spot out of spring training. The 23-year-old not only has the skills to stick around all year and be successful, but he'll have a pristine first matchup in his debut against the A's. Dollander was the ninth overall pick in 2023 out of Tennessee and went 6-2 with a 2.59 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 169:47 K:BB in his 23 starts in 2024 for High-A Spokane and Double-A Hartford. He could have four above-average pitches when all is said and done with his fastball, slider, curveball and changeup. Pitchers in Colorado are always a bit scary, but Dollander has the upside to be fantasy relevant in all formats.

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San Diego Padres outfielder Gavin Sheets is out of the starting lineup again versus a lefty on Friday at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs' home opener. Brandon Lockridge is starting in left field and is batting eighth, while Yuli Gurriel is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga. Sheets has surprisingly been one of the hottest hitters in MLB in the early portion of the 2025 season, slashing .444/.474/.722 with a 1.196 OPS, a homer, five RBI, three runs scored and also a stolen base in 18 at-bats, but the Friars are going to continue to protect him against southpaws. Neither Lockridge nor Gurriel have ever faced Imanaga in their careers, and both players will be low-upside DFS plays for Friday's slate. The 40-year-old Gurriel will continue to platoon with Sheets for the time being at DH. He has just one hit and an RBI in his first eight at-bats with the Padres.

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San Diego Padres catcher Elias Diaz will open the game on the bench on Friday at Wrigley Field for the Chicago Cubs' home opener. Martin Maldonado will do the catching for right-hander Randy Vasquez and will bat ninth against Cubs left-hander Shota Imanaga. Diaz and Maldonado will continue to split the catching duties in San Diego for the time being with Luis Campusano starting 2025 at Triple-A El Paso. Neither backstop moves the needle much in fantasy outside of two-catcher and NL-only formats. The 34-year-old Diaz, who was an All-Star in 2023 with the Colorado Rockies, has gone 3-for-13 with a walk and four strikeouts in four games to begin the year, while Maldonado has two hits, an RBI and four strikeouts in his first 11 plate appearances. Maldonado has gone hitless in just two career at-bats versus Imanaga.

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On Friday, the Washington Nationals placed starting pitcher Michael Soroka (biceps) on the 15-day injured list with a biceps strain. Pitcher Jackson Rutledge was recalled from Triple-A Rochester in a corresponding move. Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reported the news. Soroka left his start against the Blue Jays after five innings with what the Nationals initially deemed as cramping. The timetable for his return is unclear, but he's slated to miss at least a few turns in the rotation. Rutledge will hold down Soroka's spot for the time being. The oft-injured 27-year-old has not been fully healthy since 2019 and has failed to eclipse 80 innings in each season since.

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Back in February, The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal and Brendan Kuty reported that free-agent first baseman Anthony Rizzo is healthy and wants to continue playing in 2025. However, even at just 35 years old, Rizzo knows the end of his career might be approaching. The 14-year veteran became a free agent when the Yankees declined his $17 million option, instead giving him a $6 million buyout. After two injury-marred seasons the last two years, Rizzo understands why his market hasn't been robust, and he remains available after the start of the regular season. He dealt with concussion issues, two fractured fingers in his hand and a fractured forearm the last two years. While Rizzo is healthy now and would love to continue his major-league career, he also said he's not going to ruin the market for veterans that come after him and settle for a minimum contract.

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Detroit Tigers outfielder Matt Vierling (shoulder) is not yet throwing, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. Stavenhagen notes that Vierling is hitting BP, conditioning, and running defensive drills daily but has yet to progress to throwing. This spring, Vierling was limited to just two at-bats after falling victim to a rotator cuff strain. The Tigers are short-staffed in the outfield right now, with teammates Parker Meadows (arm), Wenceel Perez (back), and Akil Baddoo (wrist) all dinged up with their respective injuries. Vierling was expected to rejoin the team by the end of April, which remains a possibility. However, he still has a few milestones to check off before he returns to in-game action. The 28-year-old will undergo an MRI in the coming days to check the status of his shoulder.

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Evan Woodbery of MLive Media Group reports that Detroit Tigers pitcher Alex Cobb (hip) is scheduled to throw live batting practice at Comerica Park early next week. The 37-year-old missed all of spring training due to right hip inflammation. Cobb dealt with injuries last season, limited to just 16.1 innings pitched over August and September. Unfortunately, injuries have already hampered him once again, but it appears he's turning a corner as he'd only thrown bullpen sessions thus far. It's unclear if the former fourth-round pick will be ready to go when he's first eligible or return to the rotation at all when he's healthy, as injuries have been a concern for him. Despite pitching well during his limited 2024 with the Cleveland Guardians -- holding an ERA of 2.76 -- Cobb held an xERA of 5.01.

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