New York Mets manager Carlos Mendoza announced on Friday that right-hander Clay Holmes will be the team's Opening Day starter this year on March 27 versus the Houston Astros on the road. "He earned it. We like what we're seeing," Mendoza said. As he transitions to a full-time starting role in his first year with the Mets, the Yankees' former closer has made a nice first impression and has been dominant this spring, striking out 13 and walking four in 9 2/3 scoreless Grapefruit League innings. Holmes showed plenty of dominance over the last three years in the Bronx as the Yankees closer as well with 204 total strikeouts and 74 saves in 189 2/3 innings pitched. He's also an extreme ground-ball artist. The two-time All-Star could turn out to be a great investment for the Mets over the course of his three-year deal, but for fantasy purposes, he's a back-end starter, at best, simply because he hasn't topped 100 innings since 2018.

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley (forearm, wrist) left Friday's Grapefruit League game against the division-rival Washington Nationals after he was hit by a pitch in the right forearm/wrist area. Riley passed initial strength tests, and X-rays came back negative for any broken bones, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Justin Toscano. The 27-year-old will now go for a CT scan, with the Braves not saying anything until they have the full update. While it appears Riley avoided a significant injury, he's not out of the woods just yet. We will continue to monitor the situation, but expect him to miss at least a few days in camp. If the CT scan doesn't show anything serious, Riley should be ready for Opening Day in late March. There is more concern here since Riley dealt with a fractured hand in 2024, which wasn't discovered until he had a CT scan. Stay tuned.UPDATE: Riley is considered day-to-day and will not have to return to Atlanta for further testing.

The Miami Marlins optioned right-handed pitchers Valente Bellozo and Brett de Geus to Triple-A Jacksonville on Friday and reassigned right-hander Josh Ekness to minor-league camp. Bellozo lost out on the competition for a starting-rotation spot in camp by giving up 10 runs in 8 1/3 innings of work in the Grapefruit League. To begin the season, the 25-year-old Mexican hurler will serve as starting depth in the minors. Bellozo made his big-league debut in 2024 and went 3-4 with a 3.67 ERA, 1.31 WHIP, 44 K's and 21 walks in 68 2/3 innings over 13 starts for the Fish. The 27-year-old de Geus also didn't perform well in spring training, getting hit around to the tune of six runs in just 2 2/3 innings in the Grapefruit League. de Geus spent 2024 with three different teams and had an ERA above 7.00 in just 11 1/3 inning. He'll open in the minor as relief depth for Miami.

Philadelphia Phillies right-handed pitching prospect Andrew Painter (elbow) threw his first live batting practice session of the spring against some of his Phillies teammates on Friday, according to MLB.com's Todd Zolecki. Painter, who is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 8 overall prospect in baseball this year, is being brought along slowly in spring training after he missed all of the last two years while recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had in July of 2023. The 21-year-old will not pitch at all in the Grapefruit League and will not break camp with the big-league roster as he continues to slowly build up his prized right arm. If everything goes well and he doesn't encounter any setbacks along the way, Painter should be a starting-rotation option for the Phillies in the second half of the season. Painter should already be rostered in all dynasty/keeper leagues, but fantasy managers in single-year leagues should temper expectations.

Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper established himself as one of the league's best defensive first baseman in 2024 in his first full season playing the position. But in the offseason, he offered to return to the outfield if the Phillies were to acquire a big bat (such as Pete Alonso) to play first base. It came after Harper said in February of last year that he never wanted to move back to the outfield. The 32-year-old two-time MVP says he's still open to moving back to right field if the Phillies were to acquire a first baseman at the trade deadline this summer. "The main goal is to win the World Series." Alonso re-signed with the Mets, but perhaps the Phillies look to trade for Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr., who is in the final year of his deal. Offensively, Harper returned to the 30-homer mark in 2024 and will come off the board in the early rounds of drafts as one of the best first baseman available.