Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that right-hander Jameson Taillon (back) is scheduled to throw one inning of live batting practice in camp on Monday and then repeat the process on Friday. If all of it goes well, Taillon will be looking at a minor-league game after that. Due to a back injury that he picked up in spring training, the 32-year-old former first-round pick will open the season on the injured list and won't be ready to make his 2024 debut until at least the middle of April. We'll have a better idea of when exactly Taillon could rejoin Chicago's starting rotation once he pitches in minor league games. He doesn't walk many hitters, but Taillon hasn't been dominant and is also a fly-ball pitcher, leaving him very little fantasy upside in mixed leagues at this stage of his career.

Chicago Cubs Opening Day starter Justin Steele (knee) said on Monday that he threw a bullpen session in camp and that all systems are go for him to kick off the 2024 regular season on Thursday against the defending World Series-champion Texas Rangers on the road. The 28-year-old southpaw was removed from his final Cactus League start last Friday as a precaution due to a left-knee contusion, but it's obviously nothing serious and he will kick off the Opening Day festivities for the Cubbies later this week. Steele is firmly on the fantasy radar as a low-end No. 2/high-end No. 3 fantasy starter this year after earning his first All-Star selection in 2023 with a 3.06 ERA and 1.17 WHIP with 36 walks and a career-high 176 K's in 30 starts. The matchup against the defending World champs on the road isn't the best one for DFS purposes, though.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds (back) has been held out for the last three days in spring training due to minor mid-back discomfort. Director of sports medicine Todd Tomczyk said that Reynolds will be fine and good to go for Opening Day this Thursday versus the Miami Marlins. The 29-year-old left-handed hitter won't finish off the Grapefruit League schedule, but the Bucs are just exercising an abundance of caution with one of their stars with the regular season starting later this week. Reynolds has hit four home runs in 15 spring training games, so he appears to be ready for the regular season to start. Although Reynolds doesn't have a ton of protection around him in Pittsburgh's lineup, he's a low-end No. 2 outfield option for fantasy managers.

Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones (knee) returned to the team's Cactus League lineup on Monday against the Milwaukee Brewers, starting in left field and batting second in the order. Jones had an injury score in spring training on Saturday when he was removed from the contest after fouling a pitch off his right knee, but he was diagnosed with only a contusion and only needed one day off. Now that the 25-year-old slugger is back on the field, he should be good to go for Opening Day this Thursday. Jones has the potential to finish his second year in Colorado as a No. 1 outfielder for fantasy managers after he slashed .297/.389/.542 with a .931 OPS, 20 home runs, 62 RBI and 20 stolen bases in just 106 games in 2023. He'll be the club's everyday left fielder and resides in one of the best hitting environments in baseball.

The Chicago Cubs have optioned right-hander Hayden Wesneski to Triple-A Iowa. Jose Cuas and Luke Little have grabbed the final two bullpen spots on the roster while Javier Assad and Jordan Wicks have also made the team. A rough spring did not help Wesneski's chances of cracking the Opening Day roster as he posted a 9.82 ERA across six outings, two of which were starts, spanning 11 innings of work. He made 11 starts and 34 appearances for the Cubs in the 2023 season, working to a 4.63 ERA across 89 1/3 innings of work. The righty is likely the club's first arm to be promoted upon an injury to a member of the pitching staff but he remains well off the fantasy radar at this point.