Philadelphia Phillies left-hander Jose Alvarado earned his first save of the season on Thursday against the Colorado Rockies. It certainly wasn't pretty, as it required him to throw 35 pitches in the ninth inning with a 3-0 lead, as he allowed one run on three hits while striking out three. On the bright side, Alvarado was called on for the save over Jordan Romano, who pitched the eighth inning in Thursday's contest. Not to suggest Alvarado has taken over duties as the closer for the Phillies, but seeing him get the opportunity was good for Alvarado fantasy managers. Up next for the Phillies is a weekend series against the mighty Los Angeles Dodgers, followed by a series with the Atlanta Braves. Keep an eye on the Phillies closer situation as the weeks go on.

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitching prospect Bubba Chandler tossed 2 2/3 scoreless innings during his regular-season debut on Thursday afternoon. Chandler struck out four and served up three free passes. He allowed just one hit. Chandler was competing for a spot on the Opening Day roster but fell just short in the competition. However, it appears the Pirates are somewhat limiting his workload in the minor leagues, which suggests he may have a significant role in the big leagues when he makes his debut. Last summer, the right-hander logged 39 1/3 innings at Triple-A. He posted a stellar 1.83 ERA with a 1.04 WHIP. He held a 15:54 BB:K and allowed just two long balls. Even though fellow pitching prospect Thomas Harrington got the call to the majors before Chandler, fantasy managers should continue to keep a close eye on his progression, as he could be a must-start option when he reaches the Steel City.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo was extremely efficient in his outing on Thursday, throwing 68 percent of his pitches for strikes against the Brewers. He only needed 82 pitches to get through 6 2/3 innings, racked up four strikeouts, allowed four hits and one unearned run, and struck out four. Although the strikeouts were low, the Brewers came out swinging in this one and were getting themselves out early in the count. Unfortunately for Lodolo, he was tagged with the loss, as the Reds offense could get nothing going against left-hander Nestor Cortes. Tentatively, Lodolo is lined up to face the San Francisco Giants on the road Tuesday next week. Fantasy managers can continue to start the former first-rounder, as he is off to a good start this season through two starts with a 1.42 ERA.

Chicago Cubs pitching prospect Cade Horton struck out six batters across 3 1/3 innings of work during his regular-season debut on Thursday evening. Horton allowed just one hit and did not allow a run. This was a strong outing for the top pitching prospect in the Cubs system, as he dealt with numerous injuries last season. In 2024, Horton was only able to log 34 1/3 innings split between Double-A and Triple-A before being shut down with a shoulder strain. He was sharp at Double-A, boasting a stellar 1.10 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP across 16 1/3 innings. However, he took a step back in his first look at Triple-A. Fantasy managers should continue to monitor his status, as he could turn the corner at the top level this season if he's fully healthy. The former seventh overall pick is a name to closely monitor and should make his MLB debut later this season. If he were to continue to produce at a high level at Triple-A, it may come sooner than expected.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena blasted a home run in the second inning of the Astros' 5-2 victory on Thursday over the Minnesota Twins. The home run was the second of the young season for Pena, as he is showing some power at the plate early on. The Astros were down by one run at the time, so the home run came at a good time. It tied the game up at two a piece and helped gain the momentum needed to run away with it a few innings later. It was Pena's only hit in the afternoon, as he went 1-for-4 and is underproducing thus far with a .130 batting average. Pena is a career .259 hitter, so fantasy managers should expect better days ahead for the Astros' shortstop. Pena will look to keep it rolling as the Astros finish up their series in Minnesota on Saturday and Sunday.