The Texas Rangers announced on Tuesday that right-hander Nathan Eovaldi will start the team's Opening Day game on March 28 at home versus the visiting Chicago Cubs. The injury-prone Eovaldi will kick off the year as the Rangers look to defend their World Series title from last fall. The 34-year-old veteran has made the All-Star team twice in the last three years and went 12-5 with a 3.63 ERA (3.88 FIP) and 1.14 WHIP while walking 47 and striking out 132 hitters in 144 innings over his 25 starts in 2023 during the regular season. During the team's run to the World Series in the playoffs, he went 5-0 with a 2.95 ERA and 41 K's in 36 2/3 frames. Eovaldi can be a solid fantasy asset when healthy, but he's gone over 150 innings just once since the 2016 campaign.

The Los Angeles Angels announced on Tuesday that left-hander Patrick Sandoval will start on Opening Day on March 28 against the Baltimore Orioles on the road. Against the defending American League East champions on the road in a hitter-friendly ballpark is not the place you want to take your chances on Sandoval for fantasy purposes. Ranked as RotoBaller's No. 99 fantasy starter heading into the 2024 season, the 27-year-old southpaw went 7-13 last year with a 4.11 ERA (4.18 FIP) and 1.51 WHIP with 74 walks and 128 strikeouts in 144 2/3 innings over his 28 starts in his fifth season in the big leagues. It was a step back from his 2022 campaign. On top of it, Sandoval hasn't been sharp in Cactus League play this spring with a 7.15 ERA, 10 strikeouts and six walks in 11 1/3 innings.

The Oakland Athletics have named veteran left-hander Alex Wood as their Opening Day starter for March 28 versus the Cleveland Guardians. Wood doesn't have a ton of fantasy upside these days, especially while pitching for the lowly A's, but he'll make for a decent sleeper option in DFS right off the bat against Cleveland. The 33-year-old southpaw worked in a swing role for the San Francisco Giants in 2023 and went 5-5 with a 4.33 ERA (4.47 FIP) and 1.43 WHIP while walking 42 and striking out 74 in 97 2/3 innings over 29 appearances (12 starts). Durability and a lack of strikeouts make Wood one to avoid in mixed fantasy leagues, but the fact that he'll be a full-time start in Oakland this year will make him valuable in AL-only setups in 2024.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) will throw a two-inning simulated game in camp on Wednesday, according to manager John Schneider. Because of right-shoulder fatigue that he developed in spring training, Gausman will not be the team's Opening Day starter on March 28 against the Tampa Bay Rays, although he should be able to make his 2024 debut for the Jays in the middle of April, barring a setback with his arm. When healthy, the 33-year-old veteran is the ace of Toronto's pitching staff and should still be considered a top-10 fantasy arm. The former first-rounder in 2012 out of LSU by the Orioles has been an All-Star in two of the last three years and went 12-9 in 2023 with a 3.16 ERA and 1.18 WHIP with 55 walks and a league-leading 237 K's in 31 starts.

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Alek Manoah (shoulder) is scheduled to throw a side bullpen session in camp on Tuesday. It's an important step for Manoah, as it will be his first time throwing off a mound this spring since he reported soreness in his right shoulder earlier this month. The good news is that the 26-year-old doesn't have any structural damage in his arm, but the bad news is this is a setback he really couldn't afford after a disastrous 2023 season in which he was demoted to the minors two different times. Manoah will begin the year on the injured list, and there's no timetable for when he'll be able to rejoin the team's starting rotation to make his season debut. Those that were considering Manoah as a low-cost, bounce-back candidate in 2024 might want to look elsewhere for now.