Minnesota Twins starting pitcher Zebby Matthews (hip) tossed three shutout frames in his return on Wednesday. Matthews allowed just one base runner (via a base on balls) and tallied five punchouts. The young right-hander was dealing with a minor hip injury but appears to be past this given his strong performance. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status during camp as he could have a chance to claim the No. 5 spot in the rotation. Last season, Matthews made his MLB debut and logged 37 2/3 innings with a high 6.69 ERA and a 1.65 WHIP. He tallied 43 punchouts while holding a strong 4.3 percent walk. In the minor leagues, he held a 2.60 ERA with a 0.87 WHIP across 97 innings across High, Double, and Triple-A. If he opens the season at Triple-A St. Paul, Chris Paddack will likely claim the final spot in the rotation.

Pittsburgh Pirates left-handed pitcher Bailey Falter is projected to open the season in the starting rotation. Throughout camp, he was competing for a spot in the rotation alongside prospects Bubba Chandler, Hunter Barco, and Mike Burrows. In addition, right-hander Johan Oviedo (lat) was placed on the 60-day injured list, which opened a clear path for Falter to open the season as a starter. Falter logged 142 1/3 innings with the Pirates last season and held a 4.43 ERA with a 1.29 WHIP. He tallied just 97 strikeouts and served up 45 free passes. Under the hood, he generated a high 4.81 xERA with a .267 xBA which placed him in the 16th and 13th percentiles respectively. Given his low strikeout upside, he should only be targeted in deeper NL-only formats as a low-end streaming option in favorable matchups.

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.

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.

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.