Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson (oblique) will be forced to open the 2025 regular season on the injured list after being diagnosed with a low-grade oblique strain. The Reds weren't too worried about Stephenson's injury when he initially was announced as dealing with a sore back, and although it shouldn't be a long-term injury, it will keep the 28-year-old from playing on Opening Day and in early April. He will now miss the rest of spring training and will hope that he doesn't suffer any setbacks when he eventually starts to ramp up baseball activities. It means that Jose Trevino will now open the year as Cincy's starting catcher, with Austin Wynns likely backing him up. After a bounce-back 2024 season in which the former first-rounder hit .258 with career-highs in homers (19) and RBI (66), Stephenson will now fall outside the top-10 fantasy catchers due to his oblique injury.

Washington Nationals first baseman/designated hitter Andres Chaparro (side) apparently injured his left side while taking batting practice on Friday before the team's Grapefruit League game against the division-rival Atlanta Braves. Chaparro left with a trainer while grabbing at his side. The 25-year-old has been in competition with Juan Yepez this spring for a roster spot and is having a great camp, batting .400 with a 1.008 OPS. Depending on the severity and specific nature of his injury, Chaparro could lose out on a roster spot and be forced to open the 2025 season on the injured list. Stay tuned for an update on his injury when the Nationals provide one. The Nats acquired the Venezuelan from the D-backs last year, and he hit .215 (26-for-121) with four homers and 15 RBI in his first 33 big-league games in 2024 in D.C.UPDATE: Chaparro is dealing with left-oblique tightness and will undergo an MRI exam on Saturday morning, according to manager Dave Martinez.

Chicago White Sox infielder Jacob Amaya (hip) is starting at shortstop and batting ninth in Friday's Cactus League game against the Cincinnati Reds. After taking a few days to rest due to a hip injury that he suffered earlier in the week, Amaya is ready to return as he tries to win the shortstop job heading into Opening Day later this month. The 26-year-old is probably on the outside looking in right now alongside prospect Chase Meidroth and Brooks Baldwin. Amaya has just two hits in 16 at-bats during Cactus League play entering Friday, including eight punchouts in nine games. The former 11th-round pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2017 is going to have to do a lot in a short amount of time to change the White Sox's mind to open the regular season. He hit .176 with no homers and three RBI in 24 games with the White Sox and Houston Astros in 2024.

According to Cleveland Guardians manager Stephen Vogt, the team is considering moving third baseman Jose Ramirez to the No. 2 spot in the lineup this year. Ramirez was the team's three-hole hitter 152 times last year, and he appeared in the two-hole just six times. Vogt's reasoning behind the potential change is that it will get the 32-year-old up to the plate more often over the course of the entire season and also give him more RBI opportunities. Nothing is set in stone just yet, and a move up just one spot in the lineup wouldn't drastically impact his fantasy value in 2025. Options to hit behind Ramirez in the third spot would include young first baseman Kyle Manzardo, veteran Carlos Santana and outfielder Lane Thomas. Ramirez, a six-time All-Star and five-time Silver Slugger winner, is one of the best all-around players in baseball and is ranked at RotoBaller as the No. 5 overall fantasy player.

Los Angeles Angels third baseman Yoan Moncada (thumb) was scratched from Friday's Cactus League lineup against the division-rival Athletics due to thumb soreness, according to MLB.com's Rhett Bollinger. Meanwhile, Luis Rengifo (hamstring) is returning to the spring lineup on Friday for the first time this month due to hamstring tightness he's been dealing with. It's unclear how serious Moncada's thumb issue is or if it will cause him to miss additional time. With Anthony Rendon (hip) out for the foreseeable future, Moncada has an opportunity to see regular playing time at the hot corner in Anaheim to start the season, although Rengifo is also an option there. The 29-year-old Cuban infielder hit 25 homers for the White Sox in 2019 but hasn't come close to replicating his numbers that season and played in only 12 games due to injury in 2024. He'll have to prove himself before becoming worth a roster spot in mixed fantasy leagues.