Houston Astros right-handed reliever Ryan Pressly picked up the loss in Thursday's 5-4 Opening Day defeat to the visiting New York Yankees. He entered in the seventh frame in a 4-4 tie and allowed an earned run on two hits (a leadoff double to Aaron Judge) while walking one and striking out one. The 35-year-old veteran is off to a bad start after losing a lot of his fantasy appeal in the offseason when the team signed left-hander Josh Hader to be their new closer. The former 11th-round selection by the Boston Red Sox in 2007 has made two All-Star teams in his 12-year MLB career and saved 31 games for the Astros in 2023 while posting a 3.58 ERA and 1.07 WHIP in 65 1/3 regular-season innings. Despite no longer being the closer in Houston, Pressly still has plenty of value in holds leagues.

The Oakland Athletics placed shortstop Aledmys Diaz (calf) on the 60-day injured list on Thursday with a right-calf strain. Barring any setbacks in his recovery, Diaz will be eligible to come off the IL and make his season debut in late May. The 33-year-old veteran utilityman was able to start light baseball activities near the end of spring training and is hoping to start jogging this week. Once he's able to rejoin the A's in the big leagues, Diaz is expected to serve in a utility role on the infield and outfield. In 109 games over 344 plate appearances with Oakland in 2023, he hit just .229/.280/.337 with four home runs and 24 RBI. At best, Diaz makes for a bench option in AL-only fantasy leagues.

The Los Angeles Angeles signed free-agent left-hander Amir Garrett to a minor-league deal on Wednesday. Garrett was with the San Francisco Giants during spring training but was cut. The 31-year-old veteran southpaw reliever will now land with the Angels and will hope to eventually be called up to the big leagues. The former 22nd-round pick by the Cincinnati Reds in 2011 made 27 relief appearances for the Kansas City Royals last year and had a 3.33 ERA (5.56 FIP) and 1.73 WHIP with 20 walks and 28 strikeouts in 24 2/3 innings. Garrett has been able to strikeout plenty in his seven major-league seasons with a 10.4 K/9 in 325 1/3 innings, but he's also walked 5.2 hitters per nine innings. He remains well off the fantasy radar.

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is expected to hit against right-hander Sonny Gray (hamstring) in a simulated game on Friday. Nootbaar was forced to open the regular season on the injured list due to two non-displaced fractured in his left rib cage, but he's advancing to facing live pitching and could return to the team as early as April 4 as long as he doesn't suffer any setbacks. The Cardinals could use him back, too, with Tommy Edman (wrist) and Dylan Carlson (shoulder) also opening the year on the IL. Thumb, back and abdominal issues sent the 26-year-old to the IL three separate times last year, too, but he still managed to match his career-high with 14 home runs while also stealing a career-high 11 bases in 117 games. If Nootbaar can ever put injuries behind him, he'll be an intriguing everyday power/speed guy for the Cards.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Michael Harris II is starting in center field and batting sixth for the Braves on Opening Day on Thursday versus right-hander Zack Wheeler and the Philadelphia Phillies. It's a slight move up for Harris, who spent most of last year hitting ninth for Atlanta in their stacked lineup. If the 23-year-old former third-round pick in 2019 sticks in the six-hole, he'll have more opportunities to rack up counting stats for his fantasy managers in his third year in the majors. The former National League Rookie of the Year has hit an impressive .295/.334/.494 with an .828 OPS, 37 home runs, 121 RBI, 40 stolen bases and 151 runs scored in 252 regular-season games in his first two years in the league. Harris' fantasy arrow is pointing up with the move up the batting order.