Houston Astros infielder Brendan Rodgers is making the start at second base and is batting eighth on Opening Day on Thursday against the New York Mets and right-hander Clay Holmes at Daikin Park in Houston. Rodgers will make the first start at the keystone for the 'Stros in 2025, but Mauricio Dubon is expected to see most of the playing time at the position for the team this year. The 28-year-old Rodgers hit just .233 (10-for-43) with five doubles, eight RBI and four runs scored in 44 plate appearances over 15 Grapefruit League games this spring and should mainly operate as a utility infielder in his first year in Houston. He has four career at-bats against Holmes and has not recorded a hit. Not only has Rodgers struggled to stay healthy in his career, but he has never hit very well away from hitter-friendly Coors Field, which will pose a problem now that he's no longer playing for the Rockies.

As expected, Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (oblique) is at first base and is batting cleanup in his debut with the team on Opening Day on Thursday against the visiting New York Mets and right-hander Clay Holmes at Daikin Park in Houston. The Astros shut Walker down in spring training on March 2 with left-oblique soreness, and he didn't make another appearance in Grapefruit League action. However, Walker was able to get at-bats in a minor-league setting last weekend and was deemed ready to go for Opening Day. The 33-year-old right-handed power hitter went 4-for-8 with three doubles in the four Grapefruit League contests he appeared in, and he should be a stable power bat for fantasy managers in the middle of Houston's lineup in his first year with the team in 2025 as long as he stays healthy. Walker has faced Holmes just twice in his career and has a solo homer against him.

Boston Red Sox second base prospect Kristian Campbell is starting at the keystone and is batting sixth in his major-league debut on Opening Day on Thursday against the Texas Rangers and right-hander Nathan Eovaldi at Globe Life Field. Campbell did just enough in spring training to edge out David Hamilton for the starting duties at the keystone in Boston to begin the 2025 regular season. Last year's minor-league breakout player hit just .167 (8-for-48) with two doubles, a homer, two RBI, eight runs and 18 strikeouts in 59 plate appearances in 20 Grapefruit League games this spring, but he showed enough on defense to convince manager Alex Cora to carry him on the big-league roster to begin the year. It may take the 22-year-old a while for his power to show at the major-league level, but otherwise he should be a middle infielder with upside for those in deep-mixed fantasy leagues.

The Pittsburgh Pirates officially placed right-hander Jared Jones (elbow) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a right-elbow UCL sprain. For now, Jones will attempt to rest and rehab his UCL injury, but it doesn't mean he won't eventually need to go under the knife, which would officially end his 2025 season. In a best-case scenario, rest and rehab does the trick, but even then, the 23-year-old hurler probably wouldn't be in play to make his season debut for the Pirates until around June. The Bucs will shut him down from throwing for six weeks before he attempts to restart a throwing program and build his arm up. Expect Jones to be transferred to the 60-day IL eventually. With Jones sidelined, Carmen Mlodzinski won the fifth rotation spot in Pittsburgh, but it could only be a matter of time before pitching prospects Bubba Chandler and/or Thomas Harrington force their way into the big-league rotation.

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Michael Conforto is out of the starting lineup on Thursday for the team's home opener at Dodger Stadium against the visiting Detroit Tigers with left-hander Tarik Skubal on the mound. Andy Pages will instead make the start in left field and will bat ninth versus the reigning American League Cy Young winner. Conforto will most likely find himself on the bench against tough southpaws in his first year in LA. In the team's two-game series in Tokyo, Japan, against the Chicago Cubs on March 18 and 19, Conforto went 2-for-7 with a double, a walk and two strikeouts. In his career, the 32-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder has hit .232/.313/.391 with a .705 OPS against lefties, as opposed to a .257/.359/.479 slash line with an .839 OPS against right-handers. With Pages in left field, veteran infielder Miguel Rojas is starting at second and batting eighth for the Blue on Thursday in L.A.