

Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Trea Turner went 1-for-2 with a single and a walk in Friday's 4-3 Grapefruit League loss to the Tigers. The speedster also stole a base, his second of the spring. The veteran is having a solid but unspectacular spring, hitting just .268 (11-for-41) with four doubles, zero home runs, two RBI, one runs scored, and two stolen bases. The 2x All-Star has drawn three walks while striking out ten times. You don't want to put too much stock into spring stats, but Turner got off to a slow start last season so it would be comforting for managers to see him with a little more momentum heading into the season. Nevertheless, the 30-year-old is still a top option at shortstop with his power-speed combo which, like last season, can buoy his fantasy value even if the batting average isn't there.


Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Bryan Woo threw four innings of perfect baseball in his third spring outing on Thursday in a 4-2 Cactus League win over the Brewers. The 24-year-old allowed zero hits, zero runs, and did not walk a batter while striking out five over four frames. After getting roughed up his first time out, Woo has bounced back nicely, not allowing a run or a hit over two and two-thirds IP his second time out and now four more clean innings of work Thursday. The righty has walked just one batter and struck out 11 over eight and a third spring innings. He may get one more tune-up before the regular season, but managers who drafted the youngster to fill out the back end of their fantasy rotations after a solid debut in 2023 should be feeling confident about their choice.


Minnesota Twins manager Rocco Baldelli said that outfielder Max Kepler (leg) had X-rays come back negative on his injured leg. Kepler left Thursday's Opening Day contest early against the Kansas City Royals after fouling a ball off his leg, but the team will see how he's moving around after an off day on Friday. Fantasy managers will have to check back on Saturday to see if the 31-year-old left-handed hitter will be available to face KC following the off day. If Kepler misses any time this weekend, Matt Wallner would likely get a start in right field. Before leaving the game early on Thursday, Kepler had a rough day at the plate to kick off the 2024 season, going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.


Updating a previous report, the Chicago Cubs are saying that left-hander Justin Steele (hamstring) left his Opening Day start on Thursday night against the defending World Series-champion Texas Rangers with left-hamstring tightness. Steele was holding his left hamstring after fielding a bunt up the first baseline and falling in the fifth inning as he made a flip to first base. The good news is that before leaving early, Steele had held the Rangers to an earned run on three hits while walking one and striking out six in 4 2/3 innings. It doesn't sound like the 28-year-old southpaw's injury is all that serious, but fantasy managers will still have to check back in the next few days to see if Steele will be able to make his next scheduled start.


Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Frankie Montas picked up the win in Thursday's 8-2 Opening Day victory over the visiting Washington Nationals, hurling six scoreless innings with four strikeouts. Montas allowed four harmless singles before his strong 2024 debut ended, and the Reds wouldn't look back after taking a commanding 7-0 lead during the third frame. After missing all but one appearance with the New York Yankees in 2023 following right shoulder surgery, the 31-year-old Dominican right-hander could be ready for a fresh start on a one-year prove-it deal in Cincy. So far, so good for Montas, but the former Oakland Athletics ace will face a much stiffer test in his next scheduled start next Wednesday on the road against Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies. He'll be a complete fade for fantasy purposes in that one.
