Washington Nationals third baseman Nick Senzel (finger) was a late scratch on Opening Day on Thursday against his former team, the Cincinnati Reds, on the road after he injured a finger while taking grounders during batting practice. With Senzel out, Ildemaro Vargas will now make the start at the hot corner while batting eighth against Reds right-hander Frankie Montas. It's not the start that Senzel was hoping for in his first year in D.C., and there's no word on the severity of his finger injury or if he'll have to miss more time beyond Thursday's game. The 28-year-old former second overall pick of the Reds in 2016 out of Tennessee was a first-round bust in his five years in Cincy, mostly due to injuries. He's hoping to bounce back with the Nats after hitting .239/.302/.369 in his first 377 big-league games.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is hitting sixth on Opening Day on Thursday against the Miami Marlins and left-hander Jesus Luzardo. Cruz is probably going to hit leadoff for the Bucs against right-handed pitchers, but he's going to start in the six-hole on Opening Day against a southpaw. It's not what fantasy managers really want to see and isn't good for his DFS value to kick things off. Instead of the 25-year-old atop the batting order on Thursday, it will be outfielder Connor Joe in that spot for Pittsburgh. The 2023 season was a lost one for Cruz after he fractured his ankle on April 9, but there's still plenty to like from this emerging shortstop talent because of his power/speed profile at an unorthodox 6-foot-7, 215 pounds at the 6.

St. Louis Cardinals center fielder Victor Scott II is slotted to bat eighth on Opening Day on Thursday on the road as he faces up against Tyler Glasnow and the Los Angeles Dodgers. Scott was named to the major-league roster earlier this week as a result of Dylan Carlson (shoulder) being placed on the injured list. The 23-year-old swiped 94 bags across the minor leagues last season and could become a valuable contributor to fantasy teams on his speed alone. Scott should be viewed as an everyday player for the foreseeable future, as Carlson, Lars Nootbaar (ribs) and Tommy Edman (wrist) are all battling injuries.

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman will be batting cleanup on Opening Day as he faces southpaw Nestor Cortes and the New York Yankees. Bregman was a popular target in drafts this offseason with an ADP of 59.0. The 29-year-old has been a staple in the Houston lineup for several seasons and should once again be counted on to produce as a strong source of counting stats and great on-base skills. Bregman is an excellent play in DFS, as he should see ample opportunities to be on the score sheet.

Kansas City Royals third baseman Maikel Garcia is slotted in the lead-off spot as he faces the Minnesota Twins and Pablo Lopez on Opening Day. This is a promising sign for the young 24-year-old as he will have plenty of opportunities to score as Bobby Witt Jr., Vinnie Pasquantino, and Salvador Perez are batting behind him. Garcia is also a threat on the base paths, as he stole 23 bases last season. The right-handed bat is a contrarian option in DFS option today, as he should see a decent number of at-bats and might not be a popular play due to his pitching matchup.