The Chicago Cubs are calling up right-handed pitching prospect Ben Brown. Ranked as the team's No. 10 prospect by MLB Pipeline, the 24-year-old was the Cubs' 33rd-round pick, No. 983 overall, in the 2017 MLB Draft and began his professional career that same year. Brown has worked his way up in the minor-league ladder since, reaching Triple-A in 2023 where he tossed a 5.33 ERA across 22 outings (15 starts) and 72 2/3 innings of work. A big-time strikeout artist, Brown posted a massive 31.1% K% at Triple-A last season but he also walked a whopping 15.8% of the batters he faced at that level. However, he hasn't had substantial control issues in the past, meaning fantasy managers could tap into his strikeout potential if he can work his way into the Cubs' rotation on a full-time basis.

Toronto Blue Jays catcher Alejandro Kirk is getting the day off Saturday when the club takes on the Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Zack Littell. The 25-year-old is going to receive significant playing time with fellow backstop Danny Jansen out with a wrist injury but he will give way to Brian Serven on Saturday after starting the first two games of the season. After putting up quality production in parts of his first three seasons, Kirk slipped at the plate in 2023, hitting .250 with just eight homers across 422 trips to the plate. While he boasts excellent bat-handling skills and a keen eye at the plate, Kirk's lack of power caps his fantasy value, especially when he likely falls back into a timeshare with Jansen upon his return.

Minnesota Twins third baseman Royce Lewis has a "severe" quad strain that is going to keep him out long-term. Twins president of baseball operations David Falvey told the media Lewis will require one month of pure recovery before the club will even have an idea of how much additional time he will need before building back up to playing. This was always the risk for fantasy managers this spring as the oft-injured Lewis has appeared in just 71 MLB games since being drafted first overall back in 2017. He tantalized with 15 home runs and a .920 OPS in just 58 games in 2023, leaving managers with a serious risk/reward scenario in drafts this spring. Those who drafted Lewis at his 48.83 ADP are losing that bet just one game into the season.

Oakland A's first baseman Ryan Noda is back in the starting lineup and will hit leadoff on Saturday versus the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Tanner Bibee. Noda had a tough Opening Day on Thursday with a pair of strikeouts in three hitless trips to the plate and got the night off on Friday with a lefty on the mound in Logan Allen. The 28-year-old enjoyed a fruitful rookie season that saw him club 16 homers alongside a healthy 15.6% BB% in 128 appearances, helping him to a quality .770 OPS. However, he also punched out in a hefty 34.3% of his plate appearances. While he sat against a lefty on Friday, Noda posted a .753 OPS against same-handed pitching last season as fantasy managers will want to keep an eye on his platoon trend moving forward.

Philadelphia Phillies utility player Whit Merrifield will get the start in left field on Saturday opposite Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried. The veteran was said to get some playing time this weekend with the Braves facing lefties both Saturday and Sunday. With Johan Rojas winning the everyday center field job, Merrifield will be relegated to the short side of a platoon alongside Brandon Marsh in left field this season. The 35-year-old inked a one-year pact with the Phillies this winter after hitting .272 with 11 home runs and 26 steals across 145 appearances with the Blue Jays last season. He'll have his hands full against Fried who posted a 2.55 ERA across an injury-shortened 14 starts a season ago.