The Atlanta Braves optioned right-hander AJ Smith-Shawver to Triple-A Gwinnett on Monday and reassigned catcher Sebastian Rivero to minor-league camp as well. The Braves now have 39 players in camp. Smith-Shawver isn't going to open the 2024 regular season in Atlanta's bullpen, but there's a good chance he'll be needed at some point this year. The 21-year-old struck out 11 hitters and walked only two in 7 2/3 Grapefruit League innings, but he also had an 8.22 ERA, which sealed his fate to be sent to Triple-A. The 6-foot-3 hurler has impressive stuff and has shown dominance in the minors, so he's a pitcher to watch in mixed leagues once you start jumping on the waiver wire if he is recalled and enters Atlanta's starting rotation.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Ronald Acuna Jr. (knee) took live batting practice again in camp on Monday and said his knee is fine. Manager Brian Snitker said that he's just waiting on the team's medical staff to clear the reigning National League MVP to resume playing in spring training. The Braves are understandably being cautious with the star outfielder's right knee, which was previously surgically repaired. Acuna isn't dealing with any structural damage this time around, though, so he should be fine for Opening Day on March 28, as long as he doesn't have any setbacks with it once he resumes playing in the Grapefruit League. The 26-year-old can do anything on the baseball field and should be the first player selected in fantasy drafts this spring.

New York Yankees starting pitcherGerrit Cole(elbow) is set to have an MRI on his pitching elbow. This is a concerning release for both the Yankees and fantasy managers. Cole is arguably the top pitcher in baseball and fantasy alike. According to Yankees manager Aaron Boone, Cole is having trouble recovering between starts. Per Cole, it feels like his recovery after throwing 100 pitches during the season. Cole has made just one start this spring and threw 39 pitches over two innings. He has been the definition of a workhorse in his career, topping 180 innings pitched seven times and 200 innings pitched six times. Coming off his first Cy Young award, Cole was getting more challenging to hit going into his age 33 season as he surrendered just 6.8 hits per nine innings, the best in the game last season. Keep tabs on this developing situation, as this could cause a big shake-up to fantasy plans and possibly the Yankees' plans heading into the season.

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Matt McLain (oblique) made his spring debut on Sunday in a 5-3 Cactus League win over the Guardians. The 24-year-old had been battling an oblique injury this spring but made the start and batted third in the Reds lineup, going 0-for-2 with a strikeout. He's looking to build off a solid 2023 season where he put up a .290-16-50-65-14 line in 403 plate appearances. ATC projections see him as a multi-category contributor again, forecasting a .258-22-73-80-20 line with a .343 WOBA and 110 wRC+. RotoBaller ranks him at 74 overall, a little behind his NFBC ADP of 62 overall.

Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch stated that reliever Jason Foley, who was scheduled to pitch in Sunday's Grapefruit League matchup with the Mets, did not pitch due to "mid-camp pitching fatigue." At least it doesn't sound serious, but on the other hand, fatigue this early in the season doesn't seem to bode well for the rest of the year. Nevertheless, it doesn't sound like Foley is in danger of missing any regular season action at this point. Foley is currently used as a setup reliever, but closer Alex Lange's struggles both last year and this spring could make Foley a candidate to take over as closer if Lange relinquishes the job. Foley pitched well last season for the Tigers with a 2.61 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 69 IP, even collecting seven saves along the way.