Atlanta Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic ended his spring training on a positive note in Tuesday's 9-6 Grapefruit League loss to the Twins. Kelenic only had one at-bat, hitting a 452-foot solo home run off Louie Varland in the third inning. It was a bright spot in an otherwise dreary spring for the 24-year-old, as he batted just .143 in 56 spring at-bats and did not have a HR until Tuesday. However, the former first-round pick has been working with hitting coach Kevin Seitzer in an attempt to unlock his potential. Kelenic did show some positive signs in 2023, but it remains to be seen if he can provide fantasy impact with his new team.

Houston Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco capped off a great spring in Tuesday's 7-3 exhibition game win over Triple-A Sugarland. Blanco pitched 4 1/3 innings, allowing one run on two hits (including a solo home run) and two walks with 10 strikeouts. While it may not have been against big-league competition, it was another strong outing for the 30-year-old, who pitched 15 2/3 scoreless Cactus League innings this spring with 18 strikeouts. He had some fantasy streaming appeal last season and could start this season in the rotation for the Astros given his performance and injuries on the team. He will need to prove he can deliver consistently, but Blanco could be worth a look in favorable matchups if he can carry his strong spring into the regular season.

Detroit Tigers right-hander Alex Faedo made the team's Opening Day roster for the first time in his career. In addition, left-hander Joey Wentz made the team out of spring training. In large part due to injuries, the 28-year-old Faedo has had an uneven two seasons in the big leagues with Detroit. He's dealt with blister and nail issues, a back strain, hip pain and had Tommy John surgery. But the former first-rounder in 2017 out of Florida was healthy in the offseason and had a 1.35 spring training ERA. Faedo is expected to work in a long-relief role, which won't give him any real fantasy value, but if he can stay healthy, he could be an important piece for Detroit's pitching staff in 2024. In his 27 big-league outings (24 starts), Faedo has a 4.94 ERA and 1.32 WHIP with 45 walks and 102 K's in 118 1/3 frames.

Free-agent starting pitcher Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a one-year, $25 million deal with a vesting player option for 2025, pending a physical. With Eduardo Rodriguez (lat) set to begin the year on the injured list, the D-backs bolster their rotation with the move. Montgomery began 2023 with the St. Louis Cardinals but ended the season winning a World Series ring with the Texas Rangers, totaling a 3.20 ERA (3.56 FIP), 1.19 WHIP, and 166:48 K:BB over 188 2/3 innings. The 31-year-old southpaw likely won't miss enough bats (21.4% strikeout rate in '23) to be an upper-echelon fantasy starter in 2024, but he will have an outstanding defense behind him in the desert. Although it's unclear if he'll be ready for Arizona's opening series of the regular season starting on Thursday, Montgomery should not be lingering on any waiver wires ahead of Opening Day.

Oakland Athletics manager Mark Kotsay told right-hander Joe Boyle that he will be the team's fifth starter to open the season behind Alex Wood, Ross Stripling, JP Sears and Paul Blackburn. Boyle will throw in Arizona against Double-A hitters on Wednesday as his final tune-up before making just his fourth major-league start. In his first three MLB starts with Oakland last year, Boyle allowed just four runs (three earned) on eight hits (one homer) while walking five and striking out 15 in 16 innings pitched. The 24-year-old has a history of wildness, though, as evidenced by his 15 walks in 18 1/3 Cactus League innings this spring. The 6-foot-7 hurler throws gas but will need to command it in order to have success and remain in Oakland's rotation for the long haul. At best, he's a waiver-wire pickup in AL-only leagues.

The San Diego Padres have optioned right-hander Randy Vasquez to Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2024 regular season. Vasquez was acquired from the New York Yankees over the winter in the blockbuster trade involving outfielder Juan Soto, and he came to San Diego in competition for the final starting rotation spot. However, a poor spring showing (6.23 ERA with five walks and nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 Cactus League innings) sealed his fate. The 25-year-old will begin the year down on the farm, but the Friars will surely need him to make starts at some point at the big-league level this year given SD's questionable rotation depth. Vasquez could become an option for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues this year, but he has a low ceiling in mixed leagues as a streamer.

The Baltimore Orioles signed infielder/outfielder Tony Kemp to an undisclosed major-league contract on Tuesday and designated third baseman Nick Maton for assignment in a corresponding move. Kemp was in spring training with the Cincinnati Reds but opted out of his minor-league deal and is now headed back to the American League after slashing just .209/.303/.304 with five home runs, 27 RBI and a career-high 15 stolen bases in 124 games with the Oakland Athletics in 2023. In addition to being able to play the outfield, the 32-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran can also fill in at second base for the Orioles. At best, Kemp is going to fill a reserve role for the O's in 2024 and isn't much of a fantasy asset. The former fifth-round pick of the Houston Astros in 2013 out of Vanderbilt is a career .238/.325/.352 hitter with only 35 homers in eight big-league seasons.

Texas Rangers right-hander Jon Gray (neck) was scheduled to pitch on Tuesday but was scratched due to a stiff neck. He will instead throw a bullpen session on Wednesday, and it shouldn't impact his first scheduled start of the regular season, although that date has yet to be announced. Gray was able to throw eight scoreless innings with seven strikeouts and two walks in two Cactus League contests this spring, but fantasy managers have wonder if his neck injury will have an effect on how he pitches early on in the 2024 regular season. The 32-year-old veteran got off to an excellent start last year before crumbling down the stretch to eventually finish 9-8 with a 4.12 ERA and 1.29 WHIP with 54 walks and 142 strikeouts in 29 regular-season starts in his second season in Texas. It's hard to expect that much from an injury-prone pitcher in Texas who has gone over 170 innings just once in his nine seasons.

The Tampa Bay Rays officially placed right-handers Shane Baz (elbow) and Taj Bradley (pectoral) on the 15-day injured list on Tuesday, retroactive to March 25. Baz, 24, also dealt with an oblique injury in spring training as he attempts to return from Tommy John surgery in September of 2022. After not pitching at all in 2023, Baz is certainly going to be limited in what he can do for both the Rays and fantasy managers this year, and there's no specific timetable for when he might make his 2024 debut. A return at some point this summer is most likely. Bradley, 23, was diagnosed with a pectoral strain on March 13. He also doesn't have a specific timetable for a return, but he should be back before Baz. There's a lot to like about his strikeout upside, but he gave up too many homers and struggled with his command in his rookie season in 2023.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Manuel Margot (hand) was hit by a pitch during an exhibition game on Tuesday versus the Atlanta Braves and departed early with a left-hand contusion. However, the Twins expect him to be fine for Opening Day on Thursday. The 29-year-old was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Twins this spring and is projected to open the 2024 regular season as a fourth outfielder in Minnesota, which leaves him very little fantasy value in AL-only leagues. The Dominican outfielder spent the last four seasons playing for the Tampa Bay Rays and slashed .264/.317/.375 with 19 home runs, 153 RBI, 41 stolen bases and 149 runs scored in 360 total regular-season games. You can avoid Margot in mixed fantasy leagues in 2024.

Houston Astros right-hander Justin Verlander (shoulder) threw two simulated innings (32 pitches) during his live batting practice session on Tuesday and sat at 92-94 mph and touched 95 mph on the stadium radar gun in his first inning at Minute Maid Park. Manager Joe Espada said on Monday that if all goes well with Verlander's session on Tuesday, his next step will be starting a minor-league rehab assignment. The 41-year-old veteran said he felt good on Tuesday and wants to build up his pitch count to 85 before making his 2024 debut for the Astros. Houston isn't going to rush the process, so fantasy managers that have Verlander stashed for rotation depth this year shouldn't be surprised if he doesn't make his season debut until May.

Outfielder George Springer will retain his leadoff spot in the Toronto Blue Jays' batting order to open the 2024 regular season, but the team is leaning toward having first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit second, followed by shortstop Bo Bichette. "I really like the way (Guerrero) is swinging the bat," manager John Schneider said. "I think having him in between George and Bo is a good thing." Guerrero often hit third in 2023, a spot that will now be occupied by mostly Justin Turner. The 25-year-old slugger hit in the three-hole for 110 games in 2023, while batting second only twice. It's a move that probably won't have a drastic affect on Vlad Jr.'s overall numbers, although it could allow him to get more at-bats in the long run.

Texas Rangers right-hander Jose Urena has made the team's Opening Day roster after inking a minor-league pact with the club this winter. The veteran has struggled mightily in recent seasons, working to a 6.45 ERA across 10 outings between the Rockies and White Sox in the 2023 season, although his 4.10 ERA in five outings with the White Sox was far superior to his 9.82 ERA in five appearances with the Rockies to begin the season. Urena's inability to miss bats has long plagued him as he sports a minuscule 15.5% K% in is career. He generates ground balls at a hearty 48.2% clip but has still surrendered a 1.24 HR/9 clip in his 199 career outings. He remains well off the fantasy radar moving forward.

The Detroit Tigers have optioned right-hander Beau Brieske to Triple-A Toledo, leaving Joey Wentz and Alex Faedo as the two arms likely to begin the season in the club's bullpen. It's certainly disappointing news for the 25-year-old considering he did not allow an earned run in his 13 2/3 innings of work this spring but the fact he has three option years remaining made him expendable. The righty worked to a 3.60 ERA across 25 outings in the 2023 season after he debuted with 15 starts of 4.19 ERA ball in the 2022 season. Although he is headed to the minors for the time being, Brieske is highly regarded and could even be in the mix for saves down the line as fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his status moving forward.

The Detroit Tigers optioned right-hander Beau Brieske to Triple-A Toledo on Tuesday. The Tigers now have 28 players remaining in major-league camp with Opening Day coming on Thursday. Brieske lost out to Joey Wentz and Alex Faedo for one of the last spots in Detroit's bullpen to start the year. The 25-year-old former 27th-round pick in 2019 out of Colorado State-Pueblo has made 40 appearances (16 starts) in the majors for the Tigers the last two years and has a 4.01 ERA (4.68 FIP), a 1.25 WHIP, two saves, 37 walks and 85 strikeouts in 116 2/3 innings pitched. The Tigers could elect to stretch him out in the minors to give them more flexibility if they call him up to the big-league roster this year.

The Boston Red Sox surprisingly optioned left-hander Brennan Bernardino to Triple-A Worcester on Monday night. Bernardino was the team's top left-hander all of last year and one of their biggest success stories. Coming into spring training, he was widely considered a lock to make the Opening Day roster. He appeared in 55 games in 2023 and had a 3.20 ERA over 50 2/3 frames. This spring, he didn't allow a single run in seven Grapefruit League appearances. The move to send Bernardino to the minors was made to preserve roster flexibility given that he has minor-league options remaining. Although the 32-year-old southpaw reliever won't start the year in Beantown, Bernardino will surely join their bullpen at some point in 2024.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story went 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBI, and a run scored in Monday's 9-2 Grapefruit League win over the Rangers. Story's bat has caught fire of late, as he's collected at least one hit in six straight games while going 9-for-18 (.500) over that span. The two-time All-Star is now 18-for-48 (.375) in Grapefruit League action with four doubles, three home runs, 14 RBI, six runs scored, and even three stolen bases. It appears the 31-year-old is fully recovered from last season's elbow surgery as well as the neck stiffness that he experienced earlier this spring. He's not a top-12 option at SS, but with his power and ability to steal bases, he's got the upside (and momentum) to easily outperform his NFBC ADP of 173 overall.

New York Yankees outfielder Oscar Gonzalez (face) suffered a right orbital fracture during Monday's 8-5 exhibition game loss to the Diablos Rojos, per the Athletic's Brendan Kuty. The 26-year-old was taken to the hospital after fouling a ball off his face. While manager Aaron Boone announced earlier in the day that Gonzalez had been re-assigned to minor-league camp, he had put together a strong spring, batting .326 in 46 plate appearances.

Seattle Mariners second baseman/outfielder Sam Haggerty (personal) will start the season on the injured list with a personal medical issue, per general manager Justin Hollander. Hollander only specified that the injury is non-baseball related. The 29-year-old spent most of his time at Triple-A Tacoma last season, slashing .324/.419/.578 with eight home runs, 19 RBI, and 19 stolen bases in 222 plate appearances. However, he batted just .136 in 22 spring plate appearances.

Seattle Mariners relief pitcher Matt Brash (elbow) threw 25 pitches off the mound at 85 percent effort on Monday, per Seattle Times' Ryan Divish. The 25-year-old has been positively progressing through right elbow inflammation this spring. Brash played a key part in the Mariners bullpen last season, going 9-4 with four saves and 24 holds as well as a 3.06 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, and 34.7% strikeout rate in 70 2/3 innings pitched. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his progress for a better timetable for his return. He should be able to provide fantasy value in at least all saves-plus-holds leagues and deeper roto leagues if he can return to the team relatively soon.