Baltimore Orioles right-hander Kyle Bradish (elbow) and left-hander John Means (elbow) are both expected to pitch early in the first half of the 2024 season, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Bradish is recovering from a right UCL sprain, while Means has a left-elbow injury. There's no specific timetable for either pitcher to make their debut this year, and it's a good bet that both of them won't be ready to return until at least late April. Bradish, 27, is the more attractive fantasy arm after he had a mini breakout in 2023 by going 12-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 44 walks and 168 strikeouts in 168 2/3 innings covering 30 starts. Means, 30, had Tommy John surgery in 2022 and has made only six starts the last two seasons as a result.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck has locked up one of the final spots in the team's Opening Day starting rotation. He'll join Brayan Bello, Nick Pivetta, Kutter Crawford and Garrett Whitlock. Houck definitely earned the starting spot by posting a 2.40 ERA with only three walks and 16 strikeouts in 15 innings in Grapefruit League action this spring. The 27-year-old had a career-worst 5.01 ERA (4.43 FIP) and 1.37 WHIP while walking 41 and striking out 99 in a career-high 106 innings over 21 starts for the Red Sox last year. It was Houck's first year being used exclusively as a starter by the BoSox, so hopefully for fantasy managers in AL-only leagues, he'll be able to take a step forward in 2024. Houck will need to improve against left-handed hitters in order to accomplish that.

Boston Red Sox right-hander Garrett Whitlock has officially been named to the team's Opening Day starting rotation. Cooper Criswell will be optioned to Triple-A Worcester and will stay stretched out as a starter. It's good news for Whitlock's fantasy value as a streamer and in AL-only leagues, but his fantasy upside will be capped with the Red Sox most likely monitoring his innings in 2024 since he hasn't gone over 78 1/3 innings in any of his three major-league seasons to this point. The 27-year-old had a 3.45 ERA with two walks and 16 strikeouts in 15 2/3 Grapefruit League innings this spring. Whitlock has some upside in a starting role, but he was inconsistent in a starting role in 2023 before injuries moved him back to the bullpen.

Toronto Blue Jays closer Jordan Romano (elbow) is expected to start playing catch in camp on Saturday. Meanwhile, fellow reliever Erik Swanson (forearm) played catch on Friday for the second consecutive day. The Blue Jays plan to wait until the end of spring training early next week before making a final decision on both relievers' availability for the start of the regular season. It remains to be seen if either reliever will open the year on the injured list. The 30-year-old Romano received an anti-inflammatory injection after he was diagnosed with right-elbow inflammation. When healthy, he's a top-15 fantasy closer, but his stock is down right now due to his elbow injury. If both Romano and Swanson are unavailable for closing duties to begin the year, Yimi Garcia is the best bet to pick up save chances for the Blue Jays.

Major League Baseball announced on Friday that they have opened an investigation into allegations involving Los Angeles Dodgers two-way superstar Shohei Ohtani and his former interpreter Ippei Mizuhara. "Major League Baseball has been gathering information since we learned about the allegations involving Shohei Ohtani and Ippei Mizuhara from the news media. Earlier today, our Department of Investigations (DOI) began their formal process investigating the matter," MLB said in a statement. The Dodgers fired Mizuhara on Wednesday following accusations of a "massive theft" that involved him making sports bets with an illegal bookmaker in California. While the 29-year-old Ohtani currently isn't facing any discipline from the league, this is a developing story that could eventually drastically affect his draft stock if he faces a lengthy suspension. Stay tuned.