San Francisco Giants outfielder Jerar Encarnacion (hand) has been diagnosed with a fractured left hand, according to the team. Encarnacion recently fractured his hand while attempting to make a diving catch in a Cactus League game and will now be forced to miss at least the next couple of weeks, and possibly more. It's a tough blow for the Giants and the 27-year-old Dominica, who was hitting .302 (16-for-53) with two home runs, seven doubles, 14 RBI and four runs scored in 20 games played this spring. Encarnacion should still have a big role for San Francisco when he's healed, primarily as their designated hitter, but this news certainly puts a damper on what had been a rising fantasy value. With Encarnacion sidelined for the foreseeable future, veteran Wilmer Flores might be the biggest beneficiary for DH at-bats to open the season in San Fran.

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida (shoulder) will start the 2025 season at Triple-A Worcester as he continues to build out his throwing program as he recovers from offseason shoulder surgery. Specifically, Yoshida won't play in the WooSox's opening home series but will likely join the team in Jacksonville on April 1. This had been the expectation for a while for the 31-year-old lefty hitter after he had surgery last October to fix a torn labrum in his right shoulder. He was able to make nine starts in the Grapefruit League and hit a solid .321 in 28 plate appearances, but he's not ready to throw, which is an issue now that Rafael Devers is opening the year as Boston's primary designated hitter. Even when Yoshida is return to make his 2025 debut for the BoSox, his playing time is likely to be limited as a platoon option in left field.

The Washington Nationals selected the contract of left-hander Colin Poche on Saturday, adding him to their 40-man roster ahead of Opening Day next Thursday. Poche wasn't anything special during his 4 2/3 innings in the Grapefruit League this spring, giving up four earned runs, but the 31-year-old veteran southpaw will give the Nats some experience in their bullpen to begin the year. In a likely middle-relief role in Washington, Poche isn't going to have much fantasy appeal at all, although he did have a solid 3.27 ERA (4.16 FIP), a 1.13 WHIP, 10 saves, 158 strikeouts and 59 walks in 156 2/3 innings over 174 relief appearances for the Tampa Bay Rays over the last three seasons. He's also added 17 wins and 65 holds since the start of the 2022 season, so don't count him out as an under-the-radar contributor in holds leagues.

Tampa Bay Rays catcher Danny Jansen (rib) has been unavailable for the last few days in spring training due to a rib-muscle pull, but manager Kevin Cash is hoping that they can get him back in the Grapefruit League lineup for one of the final two spring games or Wednesday's intrasquad game. "We're trying to just manage it and keep him off the field for a couple days," Cash said. "He's in a really good spot." The 29-year-old hasn't played since Wednesday, and his availability for Opening Day next Thursday is now up in the air. It would be a shame if he's not ready, as Jansen has gone 8-for-25 with two home runs, four RBI and six runs in 11 Grapefruit League games. When healthy, Jansen is expected to be Tampa's primary backstop, but he's no stranger to missing time due to injuries in his career. If he's not ready by the end of next week, Ben Rortvedt will jump into the No. 1 catching spot.

The Cincinnati Enquirer's Gordon Wittenmyer reports that Cincinnati Reds corner infielder/outfielder Spencer Steer (shoulder) will open the season on the injured list. While Steer's shoulder injury isn't considered serious -- he played in a minor-league game on Thursday -- the Reds are playing it safe and holding him out to open the 2025 regular season. The 27-year-old was initially shut down due to his ailing shoulder in late February, and he just hasn't had enough at-bats to be trusted in the starting lineup early on. However, barring a setback on a minor-league rehab assignment to start the year, Steer should definitely make his season debut in the big leagues by the end of April. With Steer opening on the IL, the biggest beneficiary to open the regular season is likely to be Austin Hays in left field.