Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black says first baseman/outfielder Kris Bryant is in a "great place" physically, and he believes 25 home runs is a possibility for the veteran. Bryant is entering the third season of a seven-year, $182 million contract that is widely perceived as an albatross, but the 32-year-old four-time All-Star did hammer three homers and draw six walks over 43 plate appearances during spring training. Set to primarily occupy first base in 2024, Bryant should have a much better chance of staying healthy at the cold corner after appearing in just 122 of a possible 324 games in the past two years for the Rocks. Only rostered in one-third of Yahoo leagues to begin the season, the former National League MVP can't be discounted as a potential bounce-back candidate with plenty of slugging upside from a premium lineup spot in Colorado's lineup at the hitter's paradise that is Coors Field.

The Cincinnati Reds put starting pitcher Nick Lodolo (leg) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday. Lodolo will miss the first couple of turns in Cincy's rotation, but the southpaw is set to make his 2024 debut on April 10 at home versus the division-rival Milwaukee Brewers following a long road back from a stress reaction in his tibia that dates back to May of last season. The 26-year-old former No. 7 overall pick tallied an underwhelming 6.29 ERA (5.79 FIP) and 1.74 WHIP through 34 1/3 innings in 2023, but he registered a strong 28.3% strikeout rate as well as 6.0% walk rate and gave up only one run while punching out five hitters covering two spring training appearances. Considering a favorable matchup is on tap for his first showing, Lodolo's bat-missing upside means he probably shouldn't be lying around on very many waiver wires in fantasy leagues for managers that can afford to stash him.

The Cincinnati Reds placed outfielder TJ Friedl (wrist) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. While the move is a procedural measure, it's worth noting that Friedl avoided the 60-day IL in the face of a recovery timetable of six to eight weeks due to his fractured wrist. The Reds must believe the 28-year-old center fielder has a chance to return before the end of May, meaning fantasy managers shouldn't forget about him if choosing to leave Friedl on waiver wires instead of stashing him to start the year in shallow leagues. Friedl flourished during his first full year in the major leagues in 2023, slashing a potent .279/.352/.467 with 18 home runs, 66 RBI, 73 runs scored, and 27 stolen bases across 556 plate appearances. Will Benson is a name to watch during the early stages of the 2024 campaign after hitting .275 with an .863 OPS, 11 homers, and 19 swipes over 287 at-bats for Cincy a year ago.

Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Jackson Chourio will start in right field for Friday's Opening Day matchup against the New York Mets. It remains to be seen where manager Pat Murphy will slot Chourio in Milwaukee's batting order, but it's fair to expect the 20-year-old speedster to find himself in the lower part of the lineup during the early goings of the campaign. That doesn't mean Chourio won't work his way up to a more favorable spot over time; the No. 2 prospect in baseball slashed a promising .323/.373/.403 with four extra-base hits, four RBI, and two stolen bases over 62 spring training at-bats. Garrett Mitchell (hand) will miss at least the first month of the season, so Chourio will have an extended opportunity with the Brewers to showcase his exciting power and speed potential and is a threat to record 20 home runs and 20 stolen bases in his rookie year.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash said that right-hander Jake Odorizzi (shoulder) will make a start for Triple-A Durham on Tuesday, April 2, and then the team will go "start-to-start" on deciding when/if they'll bring him to the major-league level. Not only did Odorizzi not sign with the Rays until March 15, but he didn't pitch at all in 2023 while recovering from arthroscopic surgery on his shoulder. The 34-year-old veteran should eventually become a rotation option for Tampa this year, but he'll certainly be on an innings limit and already didn't come with much fantasy upside. The former first-rounder (32nd overall) of the Milwaukee Brewers in 2008 went 6-6 with the Houston Astros and Atlanta Braves in his last season in 2022, sporting a 4.40 ERA and 1.33 WHIP with 35 walks and 86 K's over 22 starts.