According to Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde, relief pitcher Mychal Givens (knee) will throw a bullpen session next week. The 32-year-old is dealing with left knee inflammation, although Hyde indicated the righty is moving in the right direction. Givens compiled a 4.79 ERA in 19 games last season while adding 20 strikeouts. That said, he's unlikely to make a difference on the fantasy end when he returns unless his role changes.

According to manager Gabe Kapler, San Francisco Giants outfielder Mitch Haniger (oblique) will be re-evaluated next weekend. The veteran began the season on the 10-day injured list because of an oblique strain. However, Kapler hopes to have him back after "a week of games." Haniger signed a three-year, $43.5 million deal in the offseason after spending the last five years in Seattle. He finished the 2022 campaign with a .246/.308/.429 slash line, 34 RBI, and 11 home runs (65 strikeouts). Blake Sabol should see more action in the outfield until Haniger can return, with the 25-year-old going without a hit in the opening-day loss to the New York Yankees.

San Francisco Giants pitcher Logan Webb will make his next start on Wednesday, the second of three meetings with the Chicago White Sox. Anthony DeSclafani will begin the series on the bump, with Alex Wood on track to close out the series on Thursday. Webb had 12 strikeouts in the opening day loss to the New York Yankees. However, he finished with an ugly 6.00 ERA in six innings. Of course, the 26-year-old right-hander has a chance to turn things around versus Chicago, so fantasy managers should be optimistic moving ahead.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Severino (lat) started some light throwing on Friday and made it through with no issues, per manager Aaron Boone. He threw again on Saturday and will continue to ramp up his throwing program, barring any setbacks. Severino had a low-grade right lat strain towards the end of spring training and was placed on the 15-day injured list back on March 30, retroactive to March 27. There's still no timetable for his return and the Yankees will be cautious with the oft-injured 29-year-old. Fantasy managers should continue to keep tabs on him.

Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is absent from the lineup on Saturday against the Washington Nationals. Travis d'Arnaud is sliding in behind the plate while Marcell Ozuna shifts from left field to designated hitter. Murphy went 0-for-5 in his Braves' debut on Thursday but he should be back behind the dish on Sunday for the series finale against the Nats.

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte isn't in the starting lineup on Saturday against the Miami Marlins. This is just a scheduled day off for the veteran speedster. Jeff McNeil is taking over in right field and Luis Guillorme is filling in at second base. Marte has gotten off to a fantastic start this season, swiping two bags over the team's first two contests. He should be good to go for Sunday's series finale against the Marlins.

Toronto Blue Jays utility man Whit Merrifield is not in the lineup on Saturday against the St. Louis Cardinals. Merrifield drew the start on Opening Day at second base but is taking a seat on Saturday vs. Jack Flaherty and the Cardinals. Cavan Biggio is manning the keystone while Daulton Varsho, George Springer, and Kevin Kiermaier man the outfield. Brandon Belt is filling at designated hitter for Toronto.

Milwaukee Brewers infielder Luis Urias (hamstring) is expected to miss six to eight weeks after suffering a hamstring injury during his final at-bat of Thursday's opening-day game against the Cubs. Manager Craig Counsell told reporters that the team expects Urias to be out closer to two months. The 25-year-old infielder was placed on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to March 31. Brian Anderson and Mike Brosseau will likely split duties at third while Urias is out. Brosseau is manning the hot corner on Saturday against Justin Steele and the Cubs.

St. Louis Cardinals Outfielder Lars Nootbaar (thumb) is not in the lineup on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Cardinals manager Oli Marmol told reporters that Nootbaar jammed his thumb in Thursday's game while sliding into third base. The injury is not expected to lead to an IL stint but the talented 25-year-old should be considered day-to-day for now. Alec Burleson is starting in left field in Nootbaar's place against Kevin Gausman and the Jays. Fantasy managers should keep a close eye on this situation to make sure Nootbaar is on track to return early next week.

In his first start of the 2023 season, St. Louis Cardinals left-handed pitching prospect Matthew Liberatore threw five scoreless innings in Triple-A. The southpaw struck out seven and generated 17 whiffs in a 9-1 win over the Charlotte Knights. The 2018 first-round pick has struggled to develop anything from his five-pitch arsenal in years past, but his curveball generated a 77% whiff rate on Friday. After a disastrous 2022 season where he had a 5.00+ ERA at both the Triple-A and major-league levels, the Cardinals' sixth-ranked prospect needs to sustain this level of play to get another chance in their major-league rotation.

Chicago Cubs infielder Nick Madrigal is making his first start of the 2023 season on Saturday against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Brandon Woodruff. Madrigal is starting at third base and hitting eighth, while Patrick Wisdom will start on the bench. The Cubs could have a revolving door at the hot corner this year with Madrigal, Wisdom and Edwin Rios, so it could be a frustrating situation for fantasy managers in deeper leagues. Madrigal was limited to just 59 games in 2022 due to various injuries. The 26-year-old former fourth overall pick by the White Sox can hit, though, and he should be able to bounce back with better health. However, limited playing time is likely to limit his fantasy contributions.

Seattle Mariners outfielder Julio Rodriguez went 2-for-5 with two doubles, an RBI, run scored and two strikeouts in the team's 9-4 loss to the Cleveland Guardians on Friday night in the second game of the season. It was nice to see Rodriguez get into the hit column after he went hitless on Opening Day on Thursday. The 22-year-old reigning American League Rookie of the Year was a high fantasy draft pick for a good reason, as there simply isn't much he can't do on a baseball field. If he can stay healthy in 2023, J-Rod has a realistic chance to finish as the most valuable fantasy hitter. Keep him in starting lineups each and every day.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is not in the starting lineup on Saturday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Alec Burleson will get the start in left field in the team's second game of the season, and he'll hit second against Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman. On Opening Day on Thursday, Nootbaar was in the two-hole for the Red Birds and went 1-for-4 with a run scored, two walks and a strikeout in a 10-9 loss. Those that invested in the 25-year-old this year can't be happy with the fact that he's already on the bench against a right-handed pitcher in just the second game of the year. Thirteen of his 14 homers last year came against righties, but he also hit just .217 against them.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock (hip) made a minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Worcester on Friday and allowed one run on six hits while walking one and striking out six over four innings of work. The Red Sox slow played Whitlock in spring training after he had surgery on his hip last September. The 26-year-old will make another minor-league rehab start, but then after that he's expected to come off the injured list and make his 2023 debut on April 11 against the Tampa Bay Rays. Whitlock has pitched in both a relief and starting role for the BoSox, but they want him to be a full-time starter this year. He's an attractive up-and-coming pitcher in mixed fantasy leagues, but workload restrictions could cap his ceiling in 2023.

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (biceps, shoulder) was sent out on a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville on Saturday. Votto began the 2023 regular season on the 10-day injured list after having surgery to fix a torn left biceps and torn left rotator cuff in August of last year. If the 39-year-old left-handed slugger looks good on his rehab assignment and can avoid any setbacks, he could be activated from the injured list when he's eligible in early April. Votto should be better in 2023 if he's fully healthy, but fantasy managers probably shouldn't expect much from the aging star, especially with little protection around him in Cincy's lineup.

Kansas City Royals second baseman Michael Massey is not in the starting lineup on Saturday for the team's second game of the season against the Minnesota Twins. Instead, Nicky Lopez will man the keystone and hit ninth against Twins right-hander Sonny Gray. Massey started at second and hit sixth in the Opening Day lineup on Thursday, but he went 0-for-4 with two strikeouts and now finds himself on the bench. The 25-year-old made his major-league debut last year and slashed .243/.307/.376 with four home runs, 17 RBI and three stolen bases in 52 games for the Royals. Massey has some pop in his bat, but his fantasy ceiling is limited in KC in just his first full MLB season, especially if he won't be playing every day.

St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (knee) is out of the starting lineup on Saturday. Andrew Knizner is doing the catching and is batting eighth against Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman. Contreras left the Opening Day game early on Thursday with a knee contusion, but X-rays turned up negative on Friday and he's currently just day-to-day. His injury doesn't appear to be too serious, so fantasy managers shouldn't be without him for too long. When healthy, the 30-year-old backstop is one of the best offensive catchers in baseball. Knizner will be a low-upside, low-cost DFS option at the catching position Saturday.

San Diego Padres outfielder Juan Soto isn't focused on a new contract, according to general manager A.J. Preller. Instead, the multi-time All-Star prefers keeping his attention on the season. "With Juan, it's been more about the baseball side of things," Preller stated when asked about a potential Soto extension. San Diego has made some big moves within the last year, including reaching agreements with several prominent players. Most recently, the club reportedly came to a seven-year, $80 million extension with infielder Jake Cronenworth. Soto's production dipped in 2022 after suiting up for the Nationals before his trade to San Diego. However, he's expected to finish the year as a top fantasy option, regardless of how negotiations play out with the Padres.

San Diego Padres infielder Jake Cronenworth agreed to a seven-year, $80 million extension with the team. The deal starts in 2024 and will keep him in San Diego until the completion of the 2030 season. The 29-year-old has posted a .256/.337/.431 slash line in 366 career games with the Padres. His versatility allows him to handle multiple areas in the infield, although he's been spending time at first base. Cronenworth had also played at least 152 games in each of his last two seasons, which is always a plus for fantasy managers.

Colorado Rockies' No. 17 prospect Nolan Jones had a big night in Triple-A on Friday. Jones smashed a pair of two-run homers for Albuquerque, making him the first player to hit two Opening Day homers for the Isotopes. Jones is a former top prospect for the Cleveland Guardians, hitting .244 with two homers and 13 RBI across 86 MLB at-bats for the team in 2022. Cleveland traded Jones to the Rockies in November for shortstop Juan Brito. Jones is worth keeping tabs on in deeper dynasty leagues in case he gets called up to join Colorado at some point during the season.