New York Yankees designated hitter/outfielder Giancarlo Stanton went hitless for the third straight game in Friday's 3-0 loss to the division-rival Toronto Blue Jays, striking out twice in four at-bats. As the Yankees were shut out in their home opener for the first time since 1967, Stanton's batting average dropped to a paltry .125 with 13 K's over his first 25 plate appearances of the year. It's way too early to give up on the 34-year-old five-time All-Star in fantasy, but he's now batting just .130 (3-for-23) with two RBI in six games against Toronto dating back to last season to boot. His playing time is safe for now, but all bets might be off when Jasson Dominguez (elbow) is ready to go later in 2024. Things won't get any easier for Stanton versus Jays ace Kevin Gausman on Saturday, but the veteran slugger is 6-for-17 with a homer and three RBI in 18 PAs against the right-hander in his career and will sport some contrarian DFS appeal in a tough matchup on paper.

Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson cranked a solo home run during the third inning of Friday's 6-5 walk-off win over the Arizona Diamondbacks, walloping his second homer of the young season. Olson crushed one to deep right center early in Friday's eventual comeback win during Atlanta's home opener. After a miserable 7-for-44 dry spell amid spring training, the 30-year-old reigning home run king is going about his business in the early goings of the regular season while hitting .269 (7-for-26) with a .975 OPS, two round-trippers, and six RBI through six outings. In 13 career games against Arizona as a member of the Braves, the lefty-hitting Olson is now batting .298 with five goners, 12 RBI, and eight runs scored and is a matchup-proof fantasy play on a daily basis in a potent Braves lineup.

Baltimore Orioles closer Craig Kimbrel helped spoil the Pittsburgh Pirates' home opener in Friday's 5-2 win, preserving the victory and notching his first save of the year with two strikeouts in a clean ninth inning. It was a bit of a rocking-chair save for the 35-year-old nine-time All-Star, who sat down the sixth, seventh, and eighth hitters of Pittsburgh's lineup with relative ease. Kimbrel really struggled in spring ball, floundering to a 7.50 ERA and serving up two homers in six spring training innings, also blowing his first save chance of the year but escaping with the win in Monday's walk-off triumph over the visiting Kansas City Royals. With that said, Friday was a strong bounce-back performance. 2023 All-Star Yennier Cano has fired 4 1/3 scoreless frames and could eventually come knocking on the door for save chances of his own, but Kimbrel is a good bet to tally at least 20 saves in 2024.

Toronto Blue Jays relief pitcher Chad Green secured Friday's save in the 3-0 win over the division-rival New York Yankees, yielding two hits in a scoreless ninth inning. Friday was technically Toronto's first save situation of the season, but Green notched a win in Tuesday's victory over the Houston Astros after working the ninth frame. His usage suggests he's first in line for save situations until the Jays get star closer Jordan Romano (elbow) and setup man Erik Swanson (forearm) back from the injured list, making Green worth a fantasy add as a short-term source of saves for the time being. The 32-year-old right-hander missed most of 2023 in his recovery from Tommy John surgery, but he's given up only one run with one strikeout over 3 1/3 frames to begin the year. He's not worth a sizable chunk of fantasy managers' FAABs with Romano's return appearing not far off, though.

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz launched his second home run of the season in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, adding two singles in the defeat. Cruz's long ball was a 395-foot missile to deep right center to get Pittsburgh on the board in the fifth inning. Now slashing .344/.382/.531 with two homers and three RBI over 32 at-bats this year, the towering 25-year-old infielder continues to flash the intrigue that makes him such an exciting fantasy prospect. Cruz slashed .261/.333/.739 with seven big flies and 14 RBI during 46 spring training ABs, and that momentum appears to be carrying over into the regular season. The lefty-hitting Cruz gets two more right-handers on Saturday and Sunday in this series with the O's, hitting a stratospheric .429 (9-for-21) and with both of his bombs coming against righties this season.