Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Justin Steele (leg) was forced to exit early during Friday's Cactus League matchup against the San Francisco Giants. The left-hander was lifted after being struck by a ball on the lower left leg. He remained on the ground while grabbing his knee until eventually exiting the contest. This is not good news as Steele is the ace of this staff and a CY Young candidate last season. His absence would be a huge hit to this team. The organization is likely to have Steele undergo further testing and will give an update on his status later in the day.

Washington Nationals outfielder Dylan Crews has been sent to minor league camp on Friday. This was expected as the 22-year-old still has work to do in the minors. Crews was selected second overall by the Nats during the 2023 MLB Draft. He struggled this spring, hitting .161 with one home run and five RBI in 31 at-bats. There's a small chance that Crews will contribute to the big league roster in 2024. The organization will likely give him a full season in the minors before considering him as an option in 2025.

Washington Nationals outfielder James Wood has been reassigned to minor league camp on Friday. He'll be joined by fellow top prospects Dylan Crews and Robert Hassell III as the Nats continue to shrink their roster. There was a low chance that Wood was going to make the team as he's only played as high as Double-A. This spring, Wood hit .341 with four home runs and seven RBI in 41 at-bats. The expectation is that he's going to start the season in Triple-A and then contribute to the big league roster at some point in 2024.

New York Yankees starting pitcher Luis Gil looked fairly strong on the mound versus the New York Mets on Friday. The right-hander allowed two earned runs while striking out five batters over four innings of work. The strikeout numbers are good for Gil who has four punchouts or more in three straight appearances. The 25-year-old was once a high level prospect with the organization but injuries have set him back. There's a chance that Gil is still able to secure the fifth spot in the rotation.

San Francisco Giants left-hander Blake Snell will pitch in a minor-league game in camp on Sunday, according to manager Bob Melvin. The next steps for Snell after that outing are to be determined. The Giants signed the 2023 National League Cy Young winner to a two-year deal last weekend, and the 31-year-old southpaw threw his first bullpen session in spring training on Thursday. Snell is not injured, but the fact that he signed so late in camp means that he will not be ready to be a part of the team's Opening Day rotation, starting next Thursday, March 28, when the Gigantes face his old team, the San Diego Padres. Snell has all kinds of strikeout upside, but he also led the league in walks in 2023, making him more of a No. 2 fantasy starter than an ace.