Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said on Wednesday that outfielder Ian Happ (hamstring) is "on track for Opening Day." Happ is recovering from a left-hamstring strain in camp, but he's trending in the right direction and was able to face live pitching at spring training last week. Before the 29-year-old is allowed to get back into a Cactus League game, he's probably going to need to show the coaching staff that he can run at full speed without any setbacks. The switch-hitting outfielder was a first-time All-Star in 2022 and delivered another strong year in 2023, slashing .248/.360/.431 while setting career-highs in RBI (84), stolen bases (14) and runs scored (86) while also clubbing 21 home runs. Happ doesn't stand out in any one category for fantasy managers, but he makes for a solid No. 3 outfielder.

Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) threw a bullpen session off a mound in camp on Wednesday and only threw fastballs. Manager Brandon Hyde said that Bradish felt good afterward. It's a big step for the 27-year-old, as it was his first time throwing off a mound since he was diagnosed with a partial tear of his UCL in February. Despite the big step, Bradish still has a ways to go before he's ready to make his 2024 regular season debut, and he will begin the year on the injured list. He was a breakout arm for the O's and fantasy managers in 2023 by going 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 168 strikeouts in 168 2/3 frames over 30 starts, but fantasy managers should be very wary of him this year. Even though he's trending in the right direction now, surgery could still be on the table if he has a setback along the way.

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Cedric Mullins (hamstring) is scheduled to return to the team's Grapefruit League lineup on Thursday, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Mullins left a spring training game last week with a right-hamstring discomfort last week and has been held out of action since as a precaution. It appears the 29-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder is fine now, though, so he will return to game action on Thursday and should be fine for Opening Day at the end of March. After breaking out in 2021 with a 30-30 campaign and a .291 batting average, Mullins' power and average have come down in the last two seasons. It's looking more like his 2021 season was an outlier, but Mullins, when healthy, can still provide an interesting mix of power and speed in a strong Baltimore lineup.

The Los Angeles Dodgers said that they scratched catcher Will Smith (back) from Wednesday's Cactus League finale due to lower-back tightness. With Smith sitting out, Austin Barnes will start behind the plate for the Blue. Smith's back injury doesn't sound serious at all, but the Dodgers aren't going to take any chances with their starting backstop with the team's first regular season game coming next week in Korea against the San Diego Padres. With spring training now over for Smith, he finishes with two home runs and five RBI in nine Cactus League contests. As one of the best all-around offensive catchers in the game in one of the best lineups in baseball, Smith is considered RotoBaller's No. 3 overall fantasy catcher, behind only Adley Rutschman and J.T. Realmuto.

New York Mets left-hander Jose Quintana will officially be the team's Opening Day starter on March 28 against the Milwaukee Brewers on the road. Quintana is getting the nod to kick things off for the Metropolitans in 2024 because right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder) is being forced to start the year on the injured list due to a right-shoulder injury. The 35-year-old veteran Quintana had a decent 3.57 ERA and 1.31 WHIP with 60 strikeouts and 24 walks in 75 2/3 innings over his 13 starts in New York last year after getting a late start to the year due to a fractured rib. The Colombian southpaw can be a reliable innings-eater in NL-only leagues at the back of your fantasy rotation, but there's very little upside left at this stage of Quintana's career for those in mixed leagues.