St. Louis Cardinals right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) will not be cleared for Opening Day on March 28, according to manager Oliver Marmol. However, there is a possibility that Gray won't open the year on the injured list and could potentially pitch later in the first road trip of the season. With Gray out for Opening Day, right-hander Miles Mikolas will be the team's Opening Day starter on the road in Los Angeles against the Dodgers. The 34-year-old is set to throw a simulated game on Sunday after straining his right hamstring on March 4. It's a bummer that Gray won't be making the team's Opening Day start in his first season in St. Louis, but his injury might not require him to miss a start at all to open the year. After finishing second in the American League Cy Young voting in 2023, Gray makes for a high-floor No. 3 fantasy starter in 2024.

Tampa Bay Rays outfielder Josh Lowe (oblique) is dealing with an oblique injury on Sunday and will start the 2024 regular season on the injured list. Just when Lowe was ready to return from left-hip inflammation, an oblique injury has cropped up that won't allow him to be on the team's Opening Day roster on March 28. The 26-year-old has tantalizing power/speed capabilities after hitting .292 (136-for-466) with 20 home runs, 83 RBI and 32 stolen bases in 135 games in his first full big-league season in 2023. However, his latest injury puts a dent in his fantasy value as an upside No. 3 outfielder for fantasy managers to begin the season. There's no specific timetable for when Lowe might be able to make his season debut, but barring a setback, hopefully he'll be able to return to the Rays before the end of April.

Kansas City Royals outfielder MJ Melendez hit his second home run of the spring on Saturday in a 7-6 Cactus League loss to the Cubs. Melendez went 2-for-4 in the contest, with a double, home run, three RBI, and one run scored. He was also caught trying to steal third base. The Royals' leadoff hitter is stuffing the stat sheet this spring, going 11-for-30 (.367) with three doubles, a triple, two home runs, seven RBI, five runs scored, a stolen base, and a BB:K of 5:5. The lefty hitter is currently projected to be in a platoon situation as he was much more productive against RHP last season, but if he were able to secure a full-time role he would be much more valuable for fantasy purposes hitting atop the Royals lineup and he may even attain eligibility at catcher on some sites.

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette hit his first homer of the spring in a 10-9 Grapefruit League loss to the Yankees on Saturday. The 26-year-old is having a productive spring, hitting .410 (16-for-39) with six RBI, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 1:7 BB:K is a little eye-opening, although the walk rate is not overly surprising for a hitter with a career 5.5% BB%. While Bichette hasn't been blasting home runs in bunches this spring, he does have four doubles included in his 16 hits. The 2x All-Star had a good, albeit somewhat disappointing 2023 stats-wise, but he'll be a top option at shortstop again in 2024. RotoBaller ranks Bichette at 31 overall, ahead of his NFBC ADP of 38.

Texas Rangers first baseman Nathaniel Lowe was scratched from his start on March 7 and a subsequent MRI indicated that he suffered an oblique strain. There is no specific date set for his return but the 28-year-old is expected to miss at least four weeks, putting his status for Opening Day in serious jeopardy. The former Silver Slugger Award winner drove in 82 runs last season and crossed the plate himself 89 times, so he's an important piece of the offense. The lefty has an NFBC ADP of 210, but RotoBaller ranks him much higher at 184 overall. Any missed time will dampen his fantasy outlook, but could brighten Wyatt Langford's chances of cracking the Opening Day roster.