Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) said his left-oblique injury isn't as serious as the one that kept him out for a month last season. He said he is sore on Thursday but not worse than Wednesday, which is a good sign. Walker had an ultrasound and is waiting for the inflammation to subside before getting further imaging. It's not much of an update and doesn't really give us much of an indication if the 33-year-old will be ready by Opening Day after he was scratched from Wednesday's Grapefruit League lineup against the St. Louis Cardinals. Last year with the Arizona Diamondbacks, Walker missed five weeks in the second half of the season. Even if this oblique injury isn't as serious, it doesn't mean he won't start the 2025 season on the injured list. Until we know more, it will certainly give fantasy managers pause in taking Walker as a top-10 fantasy first baseman in upcoming drafts.

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo (knee) said the MRI exam he had on his sore right knee on Tuesday only showed inflammation and no structural damage. Nimmo is waiting for "the last 10%" of soreness to go away before returning to the Grapefruit League lineup in the coming days. The 31-year-old's health has to be a factor as fantasy managers consider whether to roster him this year as a top-50 outfielder, considering he played through plantar fasciitis in his left foot for most of last year as well. It's good news that his knee injury isn't very serious, and he should be ready in time for Opening Day in late March. Any health concerns regarding Nimmo should be eased by the fact that he's now played in at least 151 games in three straight seasons, and although he hit just .224 in 2024, he still managed 23 homers, 15 steals, 88 runs scored and a career-high 90 RBI. Nimmo ranks as RotoBaller's No. 40 fantasy outfielder.

Toronto Blue Jays manager John Schneider is undecided on where shortstop Bo Bichette will hit in the lineup this year, but the skipper mentioned both the leadoff and cleanup spots as possibilities. "2,3 Vlad and Tony (Santander), and then from there could be Bo (Bichette).. could be Bo 1, could be Bo 4, depending on who we're facing," Schneider said. If Bichette doesn't hit cleanup, veteran outfielder George Springer is another possibility. The cleanup spot would be a bit of a surprise after the 27-year-old was one of the biggest busts of the 2024 season, but he has made 106 starts in the cleanup spot in his career. Hitting cleanup would certainly give Bichette more chances to drive in runs with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Anthony Santander hitting ahead of him, but it wouldn't necessarily guarantee a bounce-back. Bichette could be a nice value play if he slides in drafts because of his poor 2024 campaign.

ESPN's Jeff Passan write that Miami Marlins right-hander Sandy Alcantara (elbow), who is back after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery, will be on an innings limit early this year. The 2022 National League Cy Young winner has looked like his old self in spring training, throwing sinkers at 98-100 mph, mixing in one of the best changeups in the league and also sporting a 90-mph slider. The 29-year-old has been so impressive already that teams are already wondering whether he will be available at this summer's trade deadline, especially since he's under contract through 2026 and has a club option in 2027. There's inherent risk in counting on pitchers coming off TJ surgery in fantasy -- RotoBaller has Alcantara ranked at No. 44 among starting pitchers -- but his draft stock will continue to rise he keeps looking good this spring. In three Grapefruit League starts, Alcantara hasn't allowed a run with five strikeouts in 5 2/3 frames.

One MLB evaluator said this week that by the end of the 2024 season, Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain and shortstop Elly De La Cruz will be the best second base/shortstop tandem in baseball. McLain, a former 17th overall pick in 2021 out of UCLA, actually had a better rookie season in 2023 than De La Cruz, hitting .290/.357/.507 with an .864 OPS, 16 home runs, 50 RBI, 14 steals and 65 runs scored in 89 games. However, the 25-year-old missed all of last year due to rib and shoulder injuries, which has left the 5-foot-8, 180-pounder as somewhat of a forgotten man. McLain doesn't look like a power hitter, but he is frequently barreling baseballs and has hit .350 (7-for-20) with a homer and three RBI in his first seven Cactus League games this spring. Don't sleep on McLain, who is RotoBaller's No.5-ranked fantasy second baseman.