Baltimore Orioles right-hander Grayson Rodriguez is working this spring on a two-seam fastball that he wants to incorporate into his arsenal in 2024. Rodriguez sits in the upper-90s with his four-seam fastball, but it was also a pitch that was hit hard by opponents in his first year in the big leagues in 2023. Adding a new fastball with some break to should make it more difficult for hitters to sit on his upper-90s four-seamer. The new two-seamer could take the place of his cut fastball, which he also didn't have great results with last year. Rodriguez had a 4.35 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 129 strikeouts and 42 walks in 122 innings in his first MLB action in 2023, but his strong finish to the year (2.58 ERA in 13 starts) bodes well for those targeting him as their No. 2 starter in fantasy drafts.

Oakland A's utility player Aledmys Diaz has undergone an MRI on his groin and the club is still awaiting results, as per manager Mark Kotsay. This isn't the first time Diaz has missed time with groin issues as he was limited to just 109 games last season in part due to groin problems to begin the season. It was an underwhelming first season for Diaz in the Bay Area as the 33-year-old hit .229 with just four homers and one stolen base across 344 trips to the plate, production that graded out 28% below the league average, as per his 72 wRC+. He also walked in just 4.9% of his plate appearances, leading to a subpar .280 on-base percentage. The veteran could play all over the field again for the rebuilding A's in 2024 but he still remains well off the fantasy radar.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Myles Straw is not practicing on Thursday due to a viral infection. The 29-year-old is in a battle with Estevan Florial for the primary center-field role in Cleveland as he is coming off another disastrous season at the plate. Straw hit just .238 with one home run and a .598 OPS across 518 plate appearances with the Guardians a season ago, production that graded out 31% below the league average, as per his 69 wRC+. He did swipe 20 bags on the season but his power has been non-existent in his career as he has slugged just six home runs in nearly 2,000 trips to the plate. Straw's usually stellar defensive metrics also took a hit last season as he continues to remain far from the fantasy radar.

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Shane Bieber is scheduled to make his spring training debut on Saturday in a Cactus League matchup with the Kansas City Royals. The right-hander was the subject of some trade speculation last season and into the offseason but has ultimately remained with the Guardians. It was a down season by his standards in the 2023 campaign as the 2020 AL Cy Young Award winner posted a 3.80 ERA, well above his 3.27 career mark, in an injury-shortened 21 starts. However, a major dip in strikeout rate to just 20.1%, well below his 27.8% career mark and half of the 41.1% clip he posted in 2020, was most crushing to fantasy managers. Given his excellent control and run-prevention ability, Bieber is still a solid fantasy asset.

Cleveland Guardians catcher Bo Naylor (back spasms) has been cleared to catch Triston McKenzie's simulated game on Thursday. The young backstop was recently scratched from a Cactus League contest but the ailment appears to be minor in nature. Naylor made his MLB debut in the 2022 season but made a sizeable impact in his true rookie season in 2023. The 24-year-old hit just .237 but also launched 11 home runs, stole five bases, and posted an impressive .809 OPS in 67 games played. He will be the Guardians' primary catcher ahead of glove-first backstop Austin Hedges in 2024 and offers an enticing combination of power and speed that makes him a quality fantasy asset and a potential dynasty-league gem.