Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal) will take live batting practice in camp on Saturday, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Henderson is running out of time to be ready for Opening Day next Thursday, but the 23-year-old All-Star will take hacks against live pitching this weekend after being sidelined at spring training with a right-intercostal strain. He has only seen action in three Grapefruit League games, so fantasy managers that already used a first-round pick on Henderson have to be a bit worried that his lack of activity in camp could lead to a slow start in 2025. The good news is that if he's forced to open the year on the injured list, hopefully it won't be long before he's able to make his season debut in April. In just his third MLB season, Henderson broke out in 2024 with 37 homers, 92 RBI, 21 steals, 118 runs and a .281/.364/.529 slash line in 159 regular-season games.

Cleveland Guardians first baseman Kyle Manzardo (shoulder) was scratched from Friday's Cactus League game against the San Francisco Giants due to left-shoulder inflammation. For now, we'll consider Manzardo to be day-to-day, but with Opening Day less than a week away, fantasy managers in deeper leagues should prepare for the possibility that the 24-year-old left-handed hitter may be forced to open the 2025 season on the injured list. We should have a better idea about his availability for the start of the regular season by the end of the weekend. The former second-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2021 out of Washington State made his big-league debut in Cleveland last year and hit .234 with five home runs, 15 RBI and 41 K's in 53 games, but he looked better to close out the year and in the playoffs, and he should be a lineup regular as the DH in 2025. Manzardo has 20-25-homer upside.

Boston Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story (back) was scratched from Friday's Grapefruit League game against the Pittsburgh Pirates due to lower-back tightness, according to WEEI's Rob Bradford. He'll be replaced by Nick Sogard, who will start at shortstop and bat eighth in the lineup. While it's unclear if this is just the Red Sox being cautious, but it should be noted that the 32-year-old veteran already missed a week of spring action due to a back issue. With Opening Day less than a week away, there's no guarantee that Story will be ready to play next Thursday. If Story has to start the year on the injured list, David Hamilton could begin the year as Boston's primary shortstop, with prospect Kristian Campbell serving as the starting second baseman. The oft-injured Story is a hard sell as a middle-infield option in deep-mixed leagues because of his inability to stay on the field for long periods of time.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (forearm) admitted that he received a pain-killing injection in the flexor tendon of his right forearm late last season -- he ended the year on the injured list -- and the injury delayed his offseason program. Gray said the injury hasn't been an issue during spring training, but the delay in his throwing program could explain his diminished velocity in Grapefruit League games. The 35-year-old veteran has really struggled in spring games, allowing 18 earned runs on 21 hits (seven homers) while walking six and striking out 14 in 11 1/3 innings over four starts. Gray's velocity was down nearly two mph in his Grapefruit League start against the Houston Astros, which should be a cause for concern for the Cards and fantasy managers alike. If his velocity doesn't rebound, it's unlikely he'll have a strikeout rate north of 30% like he had in 2024. It's something to keep a close eye on.

Tampa Bay Rays infielder Curtis Mead has made the team's Opening Day roster, according to manager Kevin Cash. Mead essentially beats out Eloy Jimenez for one of the team's final roster spots out of camp thanks to an impressive Grapefruit League performance this spring. Entering play on Friday, Mead has hit .543 (19-for-35) with a homer, double, three RBI, a stolen base and six runs scored in 13 contests. The 24-year-old Australian's stock is certainly rising for those in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues despite the fact he's only hit .244/.300/.312 with a .613 OPS, two home runs and 12 RBI in 62 games since he debuted in the big leagues in 2023. The former highly-touted prospect in the Phillies system might initially only see playing time in Tampa against lefties, but if he continues to swing the bat like he has in spring training, more playing time will surely come. Stash him in AL-only formats for now.