MLB.com's Anne Rogers reports that Kansas City Royals first baseman Vinnie Pasquantino (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 1-plus hamstring strain and is doing everything he can to be ready to go for Opening Day on Thursday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. Pasquantino won't play in either exhibition game against the Texas Rangers on Monday or Tuesday this week, but he plans on hitting in the cages on Monday and then on the field on Tuesday. The biggest box the 27-year-old needs to check is being pain-free when he swings. "I plan on playing Thursday. But that's just me speaking as a player," Pasquantino said. He's pushing to play on Thursday, but how the next couple of days go will determine whether he'll be in the starting lineup on Thursday. The good news is that if Pasquantino doesn't play on Thursday, he could make his 2025 debut as early as this weekend.

The Detroit Tigers moved outfielder Parker Meadows (arm) to the 60-day injured list on Monday to make space on the 40-man roster for recently-signed outfielder Manuel Margot. Meadows is dealing with a nerve issue in his right arm and will be shut down for at least four weeks before he can attempt to throw again. The official placement on the 60-day IL means that the 25-year-old won't be eligible to return to the active roster until late May. It's a tough break for an outfielder that also missed plenty of time due to injuries in 2024, but he finished the year slashing .296/.340/.500 with six homers and five steals in 47 regular-season games after he returned in August. He's strong on defense and was set to open the year as the team's everyday center fielder. With both Meadows and Wenceel Perez (back) out, Margot could see playing time right away in center field in Detroit.

Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (illness) remains out of the team's lineup for Monday's exhibition contest against the crosstown-rival Los Angeles Angels. Veteran Miguel Rojas is at the 6 and will bat eighth for the Blue. Betts came down with an illness shortly before the Dodgers left for Tokyo, Japan, for a two-game series against the Chicago Cubs that was played last Tuesday and Wednesday. The 32-year-old didn't play in either game against Chicago and has reportedly lost almost 20 pounds while being unable to keep food down. There's no word on whether he'll be in the team's Opening Day lineup this Thursday against the visiting Detroit Tigers, but fantasy managers should at least be a little concerned about Betts' health for the start of the season. Rojas should continue to fill in at short, but if this turns into a long-term absence, Tommy Edman would be an option to see playing time in the infield as well.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar is starting in left field and batting leadoff for Monday's exhibition game against Triple-A Memphis, with the St. Louis Post-Dispatch's Derrick Goold noting that it's the same lineup that manager Oliver Marmol plans to use on Opening Day this Thursday against the Minnesota Twins. Meanwhile, shortstop Masyn Winn is hitting ninth for the Red Birds. Although this setup could change eventually and is likely to be different against a left-hander, Winn's short-term fantasy upside will suffer after he hit just .080 (4-for-50) with no homers an RBI, two steals and 16 strikeouts in 55 plate appearances over 17 Grapefruit League games this spring. Nootbaar, meanwhile, hit .268 (11-for-41) with a homer, seven RBI and one steal in 18 games. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter could be a nice asset for on-base percentage in deep-mixed leagues as outfield depth.

Los Angeles Angels right-hander Jack Kochanowicz will be the team's No. 5 starting pitcher to open the 2025 regular season, according to manager Ron Washington. Left-hander Reid Detmers will begin the year in the bullpen. Kochanowicz, a former third-rounder in 2019, impressed enough during spring training by posting a 2.92 ERA and 1.22 WHIP with seven strikeouts and four walks in 12 1/3 innings over his four starts to beat out Detmers, who is the more experienced arm. It's not great news for fantasy, as the 6-foot-7 Kochanowicz lacks strikeout upside and is more of a ground-ball pitcher thanks to his sinker. In his first 11 starts in his MLB debut a year ago, Kochanowicz had an ERA just under 4.00 and a 1.19 WHIP, but he struck out only 25 and walked 10 in 65 1/3 innings of work. He'll only be worth a look as an innings-eater in AL-only leagues.