Houston Astros right-hander Tatsuya Imai (arm) threw a bullpen session on Friday and "looked good," manager Joe Espada told Brian McTaggart of MLB.com. Imai's next step will be to start a minor-league rehab assignment. The first-year MLB player tossed 45 pitches during his bullpen on Friday. The 27-year-old Japanese native has had a rude awakening to the big leagues, posting a 7.27 ERA and 2.08 WHIP with 13 walks and 11 strikeouts in 8 2/3 innings in his first two starts in the United States before landing on the 15-day injured list on April 13 with right-arm fatigue. Imai is still adjusting to life in the States, and he'll still need at least several rehab starts before the Astros feel comfortable reinserting him into their starting lineup. If the rest of his 2026 season looks anything like the beginning of his tenure with the Astros, fantasy managers could be in for a roller-coaster ride. Imai needs to show better control of his pitches first if he wants to turn things around. He's currently rostered in just over half of Yahoo leagues.

Atlanta Braves right-handed pitching prospect JR Ritchie will remain with the big-league club for now because "we wanted him to be an option in the picture moving forward," manager Walt Weiss told Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Richie will get more chances after looking great in his major-league debut on Thursday against the Washington Nationals, in which he allowed two earned runs over seven innings with seven strikeouts and two walks for his first major-league win. The team's No. 2 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, will remain with Atlanta for now, but it's unclear if that will be in a starting or relief role. It might all depend on when right-hander Spencer Strider (oblique) comes off the 15-day injured list to make his season debut. At the very least, Ritchie deserves to be stashed in dynasty/keeper and NL-only leagues for his upside if he stays in Atlanta's starting rotation. He's currently rostered in 20% of Yahoo leagues.

Atlanta Braves manager Walt Weiss said that outfielder Michael Harris II (quadriceps) has been scratched from the starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Philadelphia Phillies, according to Chad Bishop of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. The Braves removed Harris from Thursday's win over the Washington Nationals early as a precaution with left-quadriceps tightness, and now he'll miss another game. Weiss said that Harris remains day-to-day, and the team doesn't expect him to have to land on the 10-day injured list. Eli White will take over again for Harris in center field on Friday and will bat ninth for the Braves versus Phillies rookie right-hander Andrew Painter. Harris' fantasy managers are hoping his minor quad injury doesn't interrupt his hot hitting at the plate of late. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter has gone 13-for-23 (.565) with four home runs, two doubles, nine RBI, and six runs scored in his last seven games, dating back to April 17. Check back on Saturday for Game 2 of the series against the Phillies to see if Harris is reinserted into the starting nine.

Colorado Rockies infielder Willi Castro (knee) is not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the New York Mets at Citi Field, per MLB.com. Tyler Freeman will make the start at second base for Colorado and will bat cleanup against Mets right-hander Freddy Peralta. Castro is considered day-to-day right now after being pulled from Thursday's loss to the San Diego Padres early with right-knee soreness. The 29-year-old switch-hitting Puerto Rican super-utility man might find himself on the bench more often in Denver, even when he's healthy, since both Edouard Julien and Freeman have been swinging the bat better in the early going. In his first year with the Rockies, Castro is off to a .246/.316/.348 start with a .664 OPS, one home run, nine RBI, 10 runs scored, and two stolen bases. Freeman has yet to homer in his 41 at-bats, but he's gone 12-for-41 (.293) at the plate with seven RBI, two runs, and two steals. He should be considered a DFS sleeper out of the cleanup spot on Friday against Peralta.