New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that the team will need one to two more weeks before hammering down a concrete throwing plan for right-hander Kodai Senga (shoulder). Senga is currently playing catch every other day. The 31-year-old second-year hurler is recovering from a right-shoulder capsular strain that he suffered in spring training and is expected to take at least six weeks to ramp up before making his 2024 season debut for the Mets. The team is proceeding cautiously after Senga was one of their most consistent starters in 2023 in his first year in the States. Despite the fact that Senga will be on the shelf for a while to open the year, he needs to remain stashed in an injured list spot in all fantasy leagues.

New York Mets second baseman Jeff McNeil is starting at the keystone and batting cleanup for the Mets on Opening Day on Thursday against Milwaukee Brewers right-hander Freddy Peralta. McNeil isn't your typical cleanup hitter with mediocre power, but if he sticks in this position regularly against right-handed pitching, it will give him more opportunities for RBI with Brandon Nimmo, Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso hitting in front of him. It's a batting order for New York that probably won't last too long once veteran designated hitter J.D. Martinez gets up to speed after signing with the team late in spring training. The 31-year-old McNeil won a batting title in 2022 but disappointed last year and is still dealing with a partially torn UCL that he's playing through. Aside from a useful batting average, McNeil isn't a lock to help with much else.

San Francisco Giants outfielder Michael Conforto got off on the right foot on Opening Day, going 3-for-4 with a homer in a 6-4 loss against the San Diego Padres. Conforto also scored three runs while driving in one. Although the lefty was batting seventh in the Giants Opening Day lineup, he should be able to move up if he continues to hit well. If this happens he could be someone to watch, as we've seen him have great fantasy seasons in the past. For now, though, he can be left to waivers outside of deeper leagues.

Tampa Bay Rays first baseman Yandy Diaz collected three hits, including a home run, in an 8-2 loss to the Toronto Blue Jays on Opening Day on Thursday. Diaz picked up right where he left off last year, going 3-for-4 with two RBI and a run scored while hitting leadoff for the Rays. He should be one of the biggest contributors of batting average in fantasy while hitting for moderate power and collecting plenty of runs. With an ADP outside the top 110, he will be a steal if he can come close to what he did last year, when he posted a .330 batting average, 95 runs, 22 home runs, and 78 RBI.

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman smacked his first homer of the season in a 7-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals. Freeman showed why he was a top-five pick in most drafts, going 2-for-3 with the aforementioned home run while knocking in three and scoring a pair of runs. Statlines like this should be common occurrences for Freeman, who will have plenty of runners on base when he hits with Mookie Betts and Shohei Ohtani batting before him. Expect another brilliant season from the 34-year-old.