Minnesota Twins pitchers Jhoan Duran (oblique) and Justin Topa (knee) are both pain-free and have been throwing, but neither of them have resumed throwing off a mound yet. Duran threw from 105 feet on Saturday, while Topa threw from 75 feet. Meanwhile, reliever Caleb Thielbar (hamstring) threw a 20-pitch live batting practice session on Saturday and seems bound for a minor-league rehab assignment with Triple-A St. Paul soon. Duran, the Twins' closer, is on the 15-day injured list due to a moderate right-oblique strain he suffered in spring training. Fantasy managers should expect the 26-year-old to miss most, if not all, of April, but he should remain stashed in an IL spot in all leagues. Until Duran can make his 2024 debut, Griffin Jax and Brock Stewart could both be candidates for save chances.

Washington Nationals outfielder Eddie Rosario and second baseman Luis Garcia Jr. are both sitting on Saturday with the team taking on a left-handed pitcher against the visiting Philadelphia Phillies. Rookie outfielder Jacob Young will start in center field and bat ninth, while Ildemaro Vargas is playing the keystone and hitting seventh versus Phillies southpaw Ranger Suarez. The 32-year-old Rosario probably isn't going to play much against lefties in his platoon role in D.C. in 2024, so this shouldn't be a big surprise. Garcia, 23, is hitting .368 (7-for-19) with a league-leading five doubles, but the Nats also want to pick and choose their spots with the young infielder this year. It's hard to recommend either Vargas or Young in DFS contests while at the bottom of Washington's lineup on Saturday.

Kansas City Royals left-handed reliever William Smith was brought in for the ninth inning on Friday night with the club holding a 2-1 lead over the visiting Chicago White Sox, but the veteran southpaw was pulled after allowing a hit and walking one in favor of James McArthur, who ended up picking up his first save. Smith did pick up a strikeout and the hold, but it's not a good sign that manager Matt Quatraro gave him the quick hook after he allowed a double and a walk after his strikeout. The 34-year-old wasn't a high-end fantasy baseball closer to begin with, but Smith might already be losing his hold on the closer gig in Kansas City after the first week. Smith already has allowed six earned runs in three innings with a blown save and two losses, so fantasy managers scrounging for saves in the early going should consider picking McArthur up off the waiver wire.

Boston Red Sox outfielder Tyler O'Neill showed some muscle in Friday night's 8-6 win over the Los Angeles Angels in their home opener, going 3-for-4 with two solo home runs, two RBI and three runs scored. The 28-year-old has so far enjoyed playing for the Red Sox in 2024, as he's started the year by going 9-for-22 (.409) with a league-leading four home runs, four RBI, a stolen base and nine runs scored in 28 plate appearances in his first seven contests. The former Cardinals outfielder has also walked more (five times) than he's struck out (three times). The former third-round pick in 2013 by the Seattle Mariners has always had the talent, but injuries kept him from reaching his ceiling in his six years in St. Louis before joining the BoSox this past winter.

Texas Rangers right-hander Michael Lorenzen (neck) said that everything went well with his minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Round Rock on Thursday and that he's ready to join the team's starting rotation for his 2024 debut. Lorenzen will throw a bullpen session in a few days before the team determines when/where his next outing will be. The 32-year-old got up to 70 pitches with Round Rock on Thursday and allowed just one run in four innings, so it would appear that he's close to being stretched out enough to join the big-league roster. Fantasy baseball managers in deep-mixed and AL-only leagues in need of pitching help may want to consider picking up Lorenzen now from the waiver wire. He threw a no-hitter with the Phillies in 2023, but there's not a ton of strikeout upside here.