First baseman Mike Ford officially signed a deal with the Cincinnati Reds after agreeing to a minor-league deal earlier this offseason. Ford is slotted to be in a bench role while Christian Encarnacion-Strand and Jeimer Candelario hold down first and third base, respectively. The veteran could slot into the lineup to provide injury relief throughout the season, but he is not expected to be a major fantasy contributor.

Minnesota Twins second baseman Edouard Julien will have to wait to make his 2024 debut as Kyle Farmer will man second base. The left-handed bat looks to be on the strong side of a platoon role for now as the Twins are facing southpaw Cole Ragans today. However, with the talent that Julien flashed last season, he may be able to play himself out of it as the season progresses.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds (back) was dealing with back discomfort earlier in the week but is confirmed to be starting in the Opening Day lineup on Thursday against the Miami Marlins and left-hander Jesus Luzardo, batting in the two-hole. The switch-hitter was held out of the final three games of spring training. Reynolds will look to have another successful fantasy season, as he hit 27 home runs with a .263 batting average last year.

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Connor Joe will man right field and will be leading off for the Pirates Opening Day game on Thursday against the Miami Marlins. Joe will get the call as the Pirates face southpaw Jesus Luzardo. If the 31-year-old can get off to a hot start, he could be the everyday leadoff man against left-handed pitchers this year.

Minnesota Twins infielder Kyle Farmer, not Edouard Julien, is starting at second base and batting seventh on Opening Day on Thursday with the team facing left-hander Cole Ragans and the Kansas City Royals. In addition to Julien starting on the bench, which was common last year against lefties, too, Alex Kirilloff and Matt Waller will also grab pine on Opening Day. Farmer hit .290/.352/.430 against left-handers last year in 128 plate appearances, but it came with only two home runs and 16 RBI. In total in 120 games in his first year in Minnesota last year, Farmer slashed .256/.317/.408 with 11 home runs and 46 RBI in 369 trips to the plate. He'll be a low-upside DFS sleeper in fantasy lineups to kick the 2024 season off.