Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Christian Walker (hand) has been diagnosed with a right-hand contusion after being hit by a pitch on his hand and leaving Thursday's Cactus League game early against the San Francisco Giants. Apparently X-rays came back negative on Walker's hand after he was hit by a pitch, so he should be considered day-to-day. Arizona will likely rest their starting first baseman for a few days, but he could be back in the lineup later this weekend. The 32-year-old right-handed hitter isn't getting any younger and could only stick around one more year in the desert, but he's been one of the most consistent power bats at first base over the last two years and should be viewed as a high-floor, top-10 fantasy first baseman this spring.

New York Mets right-hander Max Kranick (hamstring) is dealing with a left-hamstring strain and will "be down a while," according to manager Carlos Mendoza. It effectively takes Kranick out of the competition for the fifth starting spot to open the 2024 season. The 26-year-old could eventually join the Mets' rotation eventually, but he's going to be on the injured list on Opening Day in late March. Kranick wasn't a realistic fantasy target, even in NL-only leagues, anyway, as he's only pitched in 11 big-league games (nine starts) for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 2021 and 2022 and has a 5.56 ERA (4.49 FIP) and 1.65 WHIP with 22 walks and 36 strikeouts in 43 2/3 innings pitched.

Tampa Bay Rays rookie infielder Osleivis Basabe (head), who injured his head in the Grapefruit League game on Tuesday against the New York Yankees while sliding into third base, is expected to be available to return to spring training action on Friday or Saturday, according to manager Kevin Cash. It sounds as though the 23-year-old youngster was able to avoid a concussion and won't be out long. The Venezuelan infielder mostly looked overmatched in his first taste of the big leagues in 2023, as he went 19-for-87 (.218) with a homer and 12 RBI in his first 31 major-league contests for the Rays. In a best-case scenario, the switch-hitter could win a utility role for the Rays at some point in 2024, but he's lacking in offensive upside in mixed fantasy leagues for now.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg) is scheduled to throw a live batting practice session in camp on Thursday, which could be an important step as he tries to get ready for Opening Day in late March. "If today goes well, he's going to be in good shape. More importantly, if he wakes up tomorrow and feels good. Tomorrow might be a better day to talk about it," manager David Bell said. The 26-year-old southpaw is behind the other pitchers this spring after missing most of 2023 due to a stress reaction in his left tibia, but he's making progress and is worth a late-round flier in mixed fantasy leagues for his strikeout upside. The former seventh overall pick in 2019 out of TCU struggled in his seven starts last year before being shut down, allowing 24 earned runs in 34 1/3 innings, but he did strike out 47 hitters.

St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Miles Mikolas was an All-Star in 2018 and 2022, but he struggled to a 9-13 record, 4.78 ERA (4.27 FIP) and 1.32 WHIP with a league-high 226 hits allowed, a league-high 107 earned runs given up, 39 walks and 137 strikeouts in 201 1/3 innings over 35 starts. The 35-year-old topped the 200-inning mark for the third time in his career, but his 16.7% whiff rate was in the bottom one percent of the league, per Baseball Savant. Mikolas also had career-worsts in hard-hit rate (43%) and average exit velocity (90.4 mph). To bounce back in 2024, he's working hard on his slider and the sequencing of his pitches. He may try to throw less strikes on purpose as well -- because he rarely walks hitters, they have become much more aggressive against him. His poor 2023 campaign and his age has dropped Mikolas out of RotoBaller's top-100 starting pitcher rankings.