Seattle Mariners right-hander Luis F. Castillo was officially called up from the minors on Friday and will make the start in San Francisco against the Giants at Oracle Park. It's the second straight game that the Mariners will start a pitcher named Luis Castillo. The 30-year-old Dominican made his major-league debut back in 2022 with the Detroit Tigers but only appeared in three games in relief that year, although he tossed 3 2/3 scoreless innings with no walks and four strikeouts. In his lone start with Triple-A Tacoma this year before being called up, Castillo allowed an earned run on two hits while walking two and striking out two in 5 2/3 frames. Castillo heads to Seattle with a 3.46 ERA and 1.30 WHIP with 415 strikeouts and 131 walks in 11 minor-league seasons. Castillo spent the last two years pitching for Japan. Fantasy managers will want to avoid him in his first big-league start on Friday.

The Baltimore Orioles optioned outfielder Dylan Carlson to Triple-A Norfolk after Thursday's game against the Boston Red Sox to make room on the active roster for shortstop Gunnar Henderson (intercostal), who was officially activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday. Carlson is the odd-man out for now with Henderson returning. The 26-year-old former top prospect of the St. Louis Cardinals only played in two games in the early going in his first year in Baltimore and went hitless in six plate appearances with an RBI, run scored, one walk and four strikeouts. In only 96 games in 2024 with the Cardinals and Tampa Bay Rays, Carlson slashed just .209/.287/.277 with a career-worst .563 OPS, three home runs and 25 RBI in 265 plate appearances. With a crowded outfield in Baltimore, it's going to be difficult for Carlson to break through in 2025 as a post-hype prospect.

Atlanta Braves third baseman Austin Riley has been dropped down to fifth in the batting order for Friday's series opener at Truist Park against the division-rival Miami Marlins and right-hander Max Meyer. Riley has hit either second or third for the first seven games of the season, but the Braves are going to change things up as they search for their first win of 2025. The 28-year-old right-handed slugger isn't the only one slumping to begin the year in Atlanta's lineup, but he has gone 3-for-27 with a home run, one RBI, two runs scored, two walks and 11 strikeouts in 29 plate appearances. Second baseman Ozzie Albies will hit second in the lineup. The drop in the order will make Riley less attractive for DFS purposes, although he has hit .400 with a solo home run in a small sample size of five career at-bats against Meyer.

Los Angeles Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy will retreat to the bench for Friday's series opener in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park against the Phillies with left-hander Jesus Luzardo toeing the rubber. Veteran infielder Miguel Rojas will get the nod at the hot corner and will hit eighth against Luzardo, who he has one hit against in just two career at-bats. Muncy has been cold to begin the 2025 season offensively, although he did have a two-run double in Wednesday's walk-off win over the Atlanta Braves. Overall, the 34-year-old veteran has gone just 3-for-25 with a run scored and two RBI in his first seven games, so perhaps a day of rest will do him some good on the road. Rojas, 36, isn't really known for his exploits with the bat, so fantasy managers should look elsewhere at third base in DFS. He has one hit in his first 16 at-bats this year.

Texas Rangers catcher Kyle Higashioka will get the start behind the dish on Friday over Jonah Heim in the series opener against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Field. Higashioka will catch right-hander Tyler Mahle and will bat eighth against Rays right-hander Zack Littell. So far through eight games in 2025, Higashioka and Heim have had four starts apiece, splitting the catching work right down the middle. After a career year in San Diego in 2024, Higashioka has two hits in his first nine at-bats with the Rangers, including one RBI. Heim has looked better so far in a small sample size, batting .308 with two home runs and two RBI in 13 plate appearances. Higashioka will have limited DFS upside in the eight-hole on Friday, but he does have a solo home run in two career at-bats against Littell.