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Ji-Hwan Bae 2B | MIL
Pirates' Ji Hwan Bae: Placed on 10-day IL
The Pirates placed Bae on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left hip flexor strain.
Bae is coming along in his recovery, having progressed to full baseball activities, but he simply ran out of time to be ready for Opening Day. The Pirates are thus hopeful that Bae's stay on the IL will be a brief one. Once healthy, he's pegged for a utility role.
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Vidal Brujan SS | NYM
Marlins' Vidal Brujan: Makes 26-man roster
Brujan will begin the season on the Marlins' Opening Day roster.
This isn't a surprise, as Brujan is out of minor-league options, and the 26-year-old could become Miami's new speedy super-utility player with Jon Berti now a Yankee. Brujan hit just .219 (7-for-32) in Grapefruit League play and was successful on only one of three steal attempts, a performance which aligns with his career .157/.218/.221 over 272 career big-league plate appearances for the Rays.
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Oliver Dunn SS | TB
Brewers' Oliver Dunn: Makes Opening Day roster
The Brewers recalled Dunn from Triple-A Nashville on Thursday.
After slashing .282/.404/.487 with a homer and 10 RBI during Cactus League play, Dunn has officially earned a place on a major-league roster for the first time in his career. The 26-year-old seems destined for a spot on Milwaukee's bench, but his defensive versatility could net him an occasional start versus right-handed pitching.
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Xavier Edwards 2B | MIA
Marlins' Xavier Edwards: Moves to injured list
The Marlins placed Edwards on the 10-day injured list Thursday with a left foot infection.
The 24-year-old dealt with some foot inflammation in mid-March and was initially expected back in the lineup within a few days, but he's since been diagnosed with an infection. According to MLB.com, Edwards was able to hit on the back fields of camp at the tail end of spring training, so he could be ready to head out on a minor-league rehab assignment soon.
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Cavan Biggio RF | HOU
Blue Jays' Cavan Biggio: Handling second base in opener
Biggio will start at second base and bat ninth in Thursday's season opener at Tampa Bay.
Biggio is likely to see the bulk of the at-bats at the keystone against right-handers, much to the chagrin of Davis Schneider's fantasy managers. He will also be an option at third base some days.
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Andy Ibanez 2B | NYM
Tigers' Andy Ibanez: Hitting leadoff in opener
Ibanez will start at third base and bat leadoff in Thursday's season opener versus the White Sox.
Ibanez not only gets the nod over Gio Urshela at third base but also finds himself at the top of the batting order against left-hander Garrett Crochet. Parker Meadows -- who could be the favorite to bat leadoff versus righties -- is hitting ninth Thursday.
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Luis Rengifo LF | SD
Angels' Luis Rengifo: Missing from Opening Day lineup
Rengifo isn't included in the lineup for Thursday's season opener in Baltimore.
With a .783 OPS to go with 16 home runs and six stolen bases in 445 plate appearances last season, Rengifo was one of the few bright spots for an 89-loss Angels squad. Despite that success, Rengifo doesn't look as though he'll handle an everyday role to begin the 2024 campaign, as Anthony Rendon and Brandon Drury will draw starts Thursday at third and second base, respectively, while Miguel Sano steps in at designated hitter against Baltimore right-hander Corbin Burnes. The switch-hitting Rengifo should still be a regular in the lineup versus lefties, but he may need to wait for an injury or a Sano slump before he gets steady playing time versus righties.
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Jordan Westburg 2B | BAL
Orioles' Jordan Westburg: Starting at DH on Opening Day
Westburg will serve as the Orioles' designated hitter and No. 6 batter in Thursday's season opener against the Angels.
The Orioles are going with Jorge Mateo at second base and Ramon Urias at third while Westburg slides into the DH spot versus lefty Patrick Sandoval. Westburg seems likely to play the field often when the opposition has a righty on the mound, with Ryan O'Hearn or Ryan Mountcastle serving as the DH those days.