Atlanta Braves catcher Sean Murphy is absent from the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Rookie Drake Baldwin will do the catching for right-hander Bryce Elder and will hit eighth against Rays right-hander Taj Bradley. Murphy had started the three previous games, including Thursday night's extra-inning affair against the Philadelphia Phillies that finished early in the morning in Atlanta after a lengthy rain delay. After starting the 2025 season on the injured list due to a rib injury, the 30-year-old backstop has come out strong offensively, going 3-for-11 with a homer, four RBI and two runs scored. Murphy should be back in action on Saturday for the Braves. Baldwin has intriguing long-term potential behind the dish in Atlanta, but he's gotten off to a 4-for-26 start at the plate in his first seven big-league games.

Atlanta Braves right-hander Spencer Strider (elbow) will throw a bullpen session in Tampa on Sunday and then travel with the team to Toronto for their series against the Blue Jays next week. The Athletic's David O'Brien says that it sounds like Spencer Schwellenbach will make his next start on Tuesday on regular rest, with Strider coming off the injured list to make his season debut on Wednesday. Nothing is official yet, but Strider is primed to return to Atlanta's starting rotation after giving up two earned runs on five hits while walking five and striking out 27 in 13 2/3 frames over his three minor-league rehab starts for Triple-A Gwinnett. The 26-year-old All-Star got up to 90 pitches in his final rehab outing and should be fully stretched out for next week. He's coming off an internal-brace procedure on his right elbow last April, but Strider has the upside of a fantasy ace if he's right.

Chicago White Sox general manager Chris Getz said that outfielder Mike Tauchman (hamstring) has been diagnosed with a Grade 2 right-hamstring strain and will likely be out for a "couple weeks." Tauchman was placed on the 10-day injured list on Thursday for already the second time this year, but this time the White Sox will give him more time to heal up. The 34-year-old left-handed-hitting veteran should return in at least the strong side of a platoon in left field for Chicago when he's cleared, but he should be expected to miss the rest of April. Despite his bum hamstring, Tauchman went 4-for-10 with a run scored in his first three games with the Pale Hose. In the meantime, expect the White Sox to try several players in left field, including Austin Slater, Brooks Baldwin, Joshua Palacios and Michael Taylor. Taylor is in left and is batting sixth on Friday against the Boston Red Sox.

The San Diego Padres announced on Friday that they placed infielder Jake Cronenworth (rib) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to April 9) with a non-displaced right-rib fracture and selected the contract of infielder/outfielder Tyler Wade from Triple-A El Paso in a corresponding move. The team also moved right-hander Matt Waldron (oblique) to the 60-day injured list. Cronenworth was hit by a pitch in his ribs last Sunday against the Chicago Cubs and looked to be in a lot of pain while grounding out on Tuesday against the Athletics. It remains to be seen how long the 31-year-old will be out, but fantasy managers shouldn't be surprised if his absence extends beyond 10 days. In the meantime, the glove-first Jose Iglesias should see most of the playing time at the keystone in San Diego. Cronenworth was hitting .257 (9-for-35) with two homers, two doubles and five RBI through 12 games at the time of his injury.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Jose Miranda is out of the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Detroit Tigers at Target Field. Miranda will be given a day to clear his head after a tough start to the season at the plate. The 26-year-old has gone just 5-for-35 (.143) with a homer, five RBI, no walks and 13 strikeouts in 35 trips to the plate over 11 games played. Willi Castro will get the start at the hot corner and will hit second, while Edouard Julien is at the keystone and is batting sixth against Tigers right-hander Reese Olson. The switch-hitting Castro will be the more attractive piece for DFS lineups, although he's hitting just .214 (9-for-42) with a homer, four RBI and four runs scored in the early going. He's hitless with an RBI in only two career at-bats against Olson. Julien has two hits and two RBI in 10 career at-bats versus Olson.