
Detroit Tigers outfielder Riley Greene (elbow) is starting in right field and is batting leadoff for Tuesday's Grapefruit League contest against the Toronto Blue Jays. Greene made his spring training debut on Monday as the designated hitter but will now return to the outfield for the first time in game action since having Tommy John surgery on his right (non-throwing) elbow last September. The 23-year-old left-handed hitter looked even better in his second major-league season in 2023 before suffering his season-ending elbow injury. Greene slashed .288/.349/.447 with 11 home runs, 19 doubles, four triples, 37 RBI, seven stolen bases and 51 runs scored in 99 games played. If he can cut down on his strikeouts and make some more contact, he'll have even more upside for fantasy managers as a No. 3 outfielder.

New York Mets outfielder Starling Marte (groin) is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut on Wednesday, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Marte played in only 86 games last year while coming off double-hernia surgery the previous offseason, and he struggled to a .248/.301/.324 slash line with five home runs and 28 RBI, although he did steal 24 bases in 341 plate appearances before eventually being shut down with a groin injury. Injuries are a big concern for the 35-year-old veteran coming into the 2024 campaign, although he's apparently fully healthy this spring after playing in the Dominican winter league. Marte could rebound with better health this year, but the injury risk alone makes him more of a No. 5 of 6 outfielder for fantasy managers.

Texas Rangers outfielder Evan Carter (forearm) is starting in right field and batting second in the team's Cactus League game on Tuesday versus the Arizona Diamondbacks. Carter was pulled from Sunday's spring training game early against the San Francisco Giants after he was hit by a pitch on his left forearm. However, X-rays on the 21-year-old came back negative, and he was taking part in an intrasquad game on Monday. One of the top prospects in baseball, Carter made his big-league debut in 2023 and hit .306/.413/.645 with a 1.058 OPS, five home runs, 12 RBI and three steals in 23 regular-season games before becoming a lineup regular during the team's World Series run. He'll be an everyday outfielder for Texas in his first full season and will be an attractive No. 2/3 fantasy outfielder because of his 20-steal potential. However, his struggles against lefties could become an issue.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (knee) is playing center field on Tuesday in the Grapefruit League game against the Philadelphia Phillies for the first time since Aug. 22 of 2022. He's also hitting second in the batting order. Injuries have been the story of Buxton's career to this point, despite all of power/speed talent. The 30-year-old needed surgery on his knee last October but said he's been feeling great so far this spring and plans to be the team's full-time center fielder in 2024. After making his first All-Star team in 2022, Buxton only played in 85 games last year and hit a weak .207 (63-for-304), but he also managed to club 17 home runs. Buxton still has the ability to be a league-winner if he can stay healthy, but the odds are against that since he's played in over 100 games just one in his nine seasons in the majors with the Twins.


Miami Marlins manager Skip Schumaker announced on Tuesday that left-hander Jesus Luzardo will start on Opening Day on March 28 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Luzardo will be the staff ace in Miami in 2024 with Sandy Alcantara (elbow) out for the entire season. In his second full season with the Fish last year, Luzardo went 10-10 with a 3.58 ERA (3.55 FIP) and 1.21 WHIP with 55 walks and a career-high 208 strikeouts in 178 2/3 innings over 32 starts. The 25-year-old Peruvian southpaw could be affected by a career-high workload last year, but it shouldn't be enough of a concern to dissuade fantasy managers from rolling with Luzardo as their No. 2 starter with upside this year.
