New York Mets infielder Jorge Polanco (Achilles) is not ready to rejoin the starting lineup for Friday's series opener at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs, according to MLB.com. Bretty Baty will make the start at first base and is batting eighth, while MJ Melendez is serving as the designated hitter and is batting sixth for the Mets against Cubs right-hander Edward Cabrera. Polanco continues to deal with Achilles bursitis early in the 2026 season, his first with the Mets, and will miss a second straight game going into the weekend. If he continues to be bothered by the injury, the Mets could place Polanco on the 10-day injured list. It could be a big reason why the 32-year-old Dominican switch-hitting veteran is hitting just .179 (10-for-56) so far with just one home run, two RBI, three runs scored, five walks, and 11 strikeouts in his first 14 games. Polanco has a history of lower-body injuries, so this is definitely not ideal for the Mets or Polanco's fantasy managers.

San Diego Padres outfielder Ramon Laureano is the team's leadoff man "until further notice," manager Craig Stammen told AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. The skipper cited Laureano's quality of at-bats wherever he's hit in the lineup so far this season, whether it's first or "seventh, eighth, whatever, when I was dumb, putting him lower in the lineup." Laureano's fantasy baseball will be at its highest if he can stay in the leadoff spot for the Friars all season. The 31-year-old veteran Dominican outfielder has earned it, hitting .290/.355/.551 with a .906 OPS, four home runs, 13 RBI, 12 runs scored, and three stolen bases so far in the 2026 campaign in his 69 at-bats. Not only does Laureano bring quality at-bats to the leadoff spot in SD, but he's a gritty player who also has been spectacular with his glove in left field for SD. He's currently riding a six-game hitting streak in which he's gone 9-for-23 (.391) with two homers, two doubles, a triple, seven RBI, and seven runs scored.

Chicago White Sox catcher Kyle Teel (hamstring) will be with the team in Sacramento for their series against the Athletics and will then report to Triple-A Charlotte to start a minor-league rehab assignment on Monday, per MLB.com. Teel's last recovery component will be running at 100% after he was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right-hamstring strain. Barring a setback on his rehab assignment, Teel should be back with the Pale Hose in early May. Teel has yet to make his 2026 debut because of his hamstring injury, but when he does, he should see the majority of playing time behind the dish in Chicago. Until then, Edgar Quero and Reese McGuire will continue to split the catching duties for the White Sox. Teel was a 14th overall pick by the Boston Red Sox in 2023 out of Virginia, and he hit .273/.375/.411 with a .786 OPS, eight homers, 35 RBI, 38 runs, and three stolen bases in 78 games in his rookie campaign in 2025.

Baltimore Orioles second baseman Jackson Holliday's (hand, wrist) father, Matt, said on Foul Territory on Friday that his son is fine after he experienced inflammation on the other side of his right wrist recently. Holliday will resume his minor-league rehab assignment at Double-A Bowie this weekend and then potentially join Triple-A Norfolk next Tuesday/Wednesday before being re-evaluated. The 22-year-old former first overall pick in 2022 had surgery for a broken right hamate bone in his hand back in spring training, which forced him to open the year on the 10-day injured list. He was pulled off his rehab assignment earlier this week due to soreness in the same wrist, but it turns out it's nothing serious. Holliday should rejoin Baltimore's big-league roster for his 2026 season debut sooner rather than later, and he needs to be stashed in an IL spot in all fantasy leagues until then as the O's starting second baseman when he's healthy. Jeremiah Jackson, who has been swinging the bat well, should continue to work as the primary second baseman until Holliday returns.