San Diego Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta is scheduled to take the ball on Opening Day this Thursday at Petco Park against the visiting Detroit Tigers. He'll be opposed by reigning American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. Pivetta earned the Opening Day nod after having a career-best season last year in his first year in San Diego. The nine-year veteran went 13-5 with a 2.87 ERA (3.49 FIP) and 0.98 WHIP with 190 strikeouts and 50 walks in 181 2/3 innings over 31 regular-season starts. He definitely didn't look as good this spring, allowing 12 runs (11 earned) on 19 hits (four homers) while walking six and striking out nine in 12 innings over four Cactus League starts. Pivetta reportedly dealt with some arm fatigue this spring, but he should be fine for close to a full workload on Thursday. Against a strong Tigers offense on Opening Day after struggling this spring, DFS managers will probably be scared off Pivetta as a starter on Thursday.

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (finger) traveled with the Astros back to Houston, where he is currently taking batting practice at Daikin Park, according to Chandler Rome of The Athletic. The Astros have not ruled Pena out for Opening Day. The 28-year-old took swings over the weekend in camp and apparently didn't suffer any setbacks after fracturing the tip of his right ring finger during an exhibition game for the Dominican Republic before the World Baseball Classic. Pena is recovering nicely, but if he isn't cleared to face live pitching before Thursday, there's a good chance he won't be in the Opening Day lineup against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. It's still possible he begins the 2026 campaign on the injured list. Pena's injury shouldn't negatively affect his fantasy value too much to begin the year. As a low-end starting shortstop in fantasy, Pena has 30-30 potential if all the pieces fall in the right place this year.

The Milwaukee Brewers announced on Monday that right-hander Brandon Woodruff (lat) will make his 2026 season debut on Tuesday, March 31, against the Tampa Bay Rays, according to Curt Hogg of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Woodruff got a late start to the 2025 season while recovering from right-shoulder surgery, and then he injured his lat late in the year. It's why the Brew Crew played it safe with the 33-year-old veteran this spring. The good news for fantasy managers who are rolling the dice on Woodruff this year, though, is that he will avoid opening the regular season on the injured list. In just five Cactus League innings in spring training, Woodruff allowed three earned runs while walking two and striking out seven in two starts. DFS managers will probably want to avoid Woodruff early on because of his workload restrictions, but once he's fully stretched out, he can be a high-upside fantasy starter in 2026.

Philadelphia Phillies right-hander Zack Wheeler (shoulder) has done so well in his rehab this spring that he will officially begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Saturday and throw three innings at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, according to Matt Gelb of The Athletic. Wheeler got the green light to start a rehab assignment this weekend after feeling good during a 29-pitch simulated game in camp on Monday. The 35-year-old veteran had surgery for venous thoracic outlet syndrome on Sept. 23, but he has looked great while ramping up this spring, and the Phillies are optimistic that he will be able to make his 2026 debut before the end of April. The Phillies already announced that Wheeler will start the season on the 15-day injured list. Although Wheeler is more of a risk in fantasy baseball drafts this spring, his ADP continues to rise with all of the reports on his rehab being excellent. RotoBaller has him currently ranked as the No. 26 fantasy starting pitcher.