Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien (illness) is back at second base and batting leadoff on Thursday in the Cactus League game against the San Francisco Giants. A stomach bug is going around the Rangers' clubhouse in camp, and the 34-year-old veteran wasn't feeling good enough to play on Wednesday. He's now back in there a day later and is hoping to pick it up offensively with Opening Day just several weeks away. In 12 spring games to this point, Semien has gone 6-for-32 (.188) with two home runs, a triple, three RBI and three runs scored in 34 plate appearances. It was a down year for him at the plate last year, too, by his standards as he slashed .237/.308/.391 with 23 home runs, 74 RBI and eight steals in 159 games. Semien's underlying metrics didn't dip, though, so he's still a strong second base target in fantasy that has been one of the most durable players in the league.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) is taking part in most baseball activities in camp but has not been cleared to play in Grapefruit League games. Acuna will embark on a minor-league rehab assignment once the 2025 regular season begins in late March, and his return should come in early- to mid-March, according to MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. The 2023 National League MVP has the ability to make a huge impact for the Braves and for fantasy managers when he makes his season debut. Acuna also won the NL Rookie of the Year award in 2018 and has made four All-Star appearances. However, he's now torn the ACL in both of his knees since 2021 and will miss at least the first month of the 2025 season. His latest ACL tear has taken him from being the consensus No. 1 overall pick in fantasy to No. 29 at RotoBaller.

It's reasonable to expect Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) to rejoin the starting rotation sometime in late April, sources tell MLB.com's Mark Feinsand. Strider, who won 20 games for Atlanta in 2023, underwent an internal-brace surgery to fix his right UCL last April. He could throw in a Grapefruit League game before the end of spring training and then is likely to start a 30-day minor-league rehab assignment when the regular season opens. The 26-year-old was fourth in the National League Cy Young voting in 2023, when he went 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA in 186 2/3 innings. Strider's arrow is pointing up for sure, but fantasy managers will have to expect the Braves to slow-play the talented right-hander when he's back in the rotation after he made only two starts a year ago. But because of his upside, he's in play as a No. 3/4 fantasy starting pitcher in upcoming drafts.

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (shoulder) threw out to around 105 feet in camp on Thursday. He still has two weeks until Opening Day, and although it's possible he'll need extra time to ramp up his throwing all the way, he's in a good spot given how complicated rehab from shoulder surgery can be, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. The 28-year-old continues to be up in the air for the start of the 2025 season after having surgery on his right shoulder in September of last year. He has yet to play the field yet in Grapefruit League action but has gone 5-for-16 with three home runs as the designated hitter, which is a great sign for him at the plate after having offseason surgery. Varsho's DH role could continue early into the season if he's not ready to play the outfield. He is RotoBaller's No. 90-ranked fantasy outfielder, but a bounce-back is possible if his down poor 2024 was related to his injured shoulder.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer (thumb) had an MRI exam on his sore right thumb, but nothing serious was found, according to MLB.com's Keegan Matheson. Scherzer is playing catch in camp on Thursday and will be back on a mound on Friday or Saturday. It's good news for an aging pitcher that has dealt with injuries in recent seasons as he nears the end of his career. The 40-year-old three-time Cy Young winner and eight-time All-Star was scratched from his Cactus League start this week but has avoided any serious damage and should be ready for Opening Day later this month. Although he remains an injury risk at this point of his career after making only nine starts in 2024 due to injuries, Scherzer can be a value pick in deeper fantasy drafts if he can stay on the field. So far in nine innings in spring training, he's looked more like his old self with 14 strikeouts and no walks.