San Francisco Giants left-hander Robbie Ray (elbow) threw a 40-pitch bullpen session on Thursday and will throw another bullpen on Monday. Ray is recovering from Tommy John surgery that he had last May, so he's unlikely to be an option for the Giants' starting rotation until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Because of the fact that the 32-year-old also had a flexor-tendon repair in addition to Tommy John surgery, his rehab will likely extend a little longer. Given the depth of San Fran's rotation after they added reigning National League Cy Young winner Blake Snell, the Giants won't be in any rush to bring Ray back in the second half. Ray won an American League Cy Young in 2021 with the Blue Jays and went 12-12 with a 3.71 ERA and 1.19 WHIP with 62 walks and 212 K's in 32 starts in his last full season in 2022 with the Mariners.

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (calf) will make his final minor-league rehab start on Sunday and is set to return from the injured list on April 12. If Lodolo doesn't have a setback in his final rehab start this weekend, he's on track to make his season debut with the Reds next weekend in an excellent matchup against the Chicago White Sox. The 26-year-old southpaw made only seven starts in 2023 in his second major-league season due to a stress reaction in his left tibia and he had more issues with the same leg in spring training this year, which caused him to open the season on the injured list. Fantasy managers may want to be patient with Lodolo upon his return, but he's worth picking up and stashing for his strikeout upside in mixed leagues if he's available.

New York Mets right-hander Julio Teheran will officially make his 2024 debut with the Mets on Monday in Atlanta against the division-rival Braves, and he'll be good for 70 to 75 pitches. Teheran will also potentially be available out of the bullpen on Friday in the series opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. The 33-year-old veteran was trying to win a roster spot with the Baltimore Orioles in spring training this year but was cut before Opening Day and has landed in the National League with the Mets. He'll give the team some rotation help with both Kodai Senga and Tylor Megill on the injured list due to shoulder injuries. At best, Teheran is a waiver-wire pickup for the pitching-needy in deep NL-only leagues, and he should be avoided in his first start versus Atlanta.

Atlanta Braves outfielder Jarred Kelenic will head to the bench on Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks with the team facing a left-handed pitcher. With Kelenic starting on the pine, Adam Duvall will make the start in left field for the Braves and will hit sixth against Diamondbacks left-hander Tommy Henry. It's not going to be uncommon for Kelenic to sit against left-handed hurlers, at least early on in 2024. The 35-year-old Duvall has three hits and three RBI in his first 10 at-bats of the 2024 season in three games and will be a sneaky DFS play against a soft-tossing left-hander on Friday. Duvall is a career .233 hitter with 45 home runs and 127 RBI in 897 plate appearances against southpaw. He's never faced Henry in his career.

The Arizona Diamondbacks reinstated outfielder Randal Grichuk (ankle) from the 10-day injured list on Friday and optioned outfield prospect Jorge Barrosa to Triple-A Reno in a corresponding move. Grichuk is not in the team's starting lineup on Friday versus the Atlanta Braves, and the 32-year-old veteran outfielder will operate more as a fourth outfielder for Arizona than as an everyday player. Grichuk is finally ready to go in 2024 after recovering from ankle surgery he had in January. In a reserve role, he'll really only be useful as outfield depth in NL-only leagues for his occasional power. After being traded from the Rockies to Angels in 2023, Grichuk hit just .216 (42-for-194) with eight homers and 17 RBI in 54 games.