Ort (oblique) is not likely to be on the Astros' Opening Day roster, Matt Kawahara of the Houston Chronicle reports.

Ort first suffered the injury early in spring training and has resumed throwing off a mound. While it's very likely he'll begin the season on the injured list, general manager Dana Brown said he expects Ort to return at some point in April

The Blue Jays optioned Walker to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.

Walker signed a one-year deal with the Blue Jays in December. He entered spring training with a chance to secure a bullpen spot in Toronto, but he will begin his season in Buffalo. The southpaw posted a 3.86 ERA and 1.14 WHIP across eight innings in Grapefruit League play before being optioned.

The Blue Jays optioned Tate to Triple-A Buffalo on Thursday.

Tate didn't sign with the Jays until March 10 and hasn't appeared in a spring game since then, so he'll head to Triple-A to build up for the season. The 30-year-old reliever finished 2024 with a 4.66 ERA and 1.47 WHIP across 36.2 innings, but he may be called up a few times over the course of the season to provide Toronto with a fresh bullpen arm.

Stewart (hamstring) threw a successful bullpen session Thursday, Dan Hayes of The Athletic reports.

Stewart had to depart his last Grapefruit League appearance Saturday against Atlanta with a left hamstring issue. He plans to appear in a game Saturday, the Minnesota Star Tribune reports. If so, he should have a good shot to avoid the injured list if he can avoid a setback.

Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said Thursday that Bautista (elbow) is not a guarantee to be on the Opening Day roster, Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun reports.

Bautista is considered healthy as he comes back from October 2023 Tommy John surgery, but he's still in ramp-up mode and the Orioles could decide he's not ready yet. The righty has made four Grapefruit League appearances, allowing three runs with a 7:1 K:BB. Bautista is throwing on the back fields Thursday and it's not clear when he might make another game appearance. If Bautista isn't included on the Opening Day roster, Seranthony Dominguez and/or Gregory Soto could fill in at closer.

The Yankees reassigned Leibrandt to minor-league camp Thursday.

Leibrandt was making a good case to be part of the Yankees' Opening Day bullpen with a 2.19 ERA and 1.30 WHIP over 12.1 innings in spring training. However, the 32-year-old southpaw owns a 5.28 ERA through 15.1 career MLB innings, so the team will likely need to see him continue his hot stretch in the minors before giving him the call to New York.

Smith has been informed he has made the White Sox' Opening Day roster, Daryl Van Schouwen of the Chicago Sun-Times reports.

The Rule 5 pick made the decision easy on the White Sox, posting a 3.38 ERA and 11:4 K:BB over 10.2 innings covering four starts during Cactus League play. Smith could be Chicago's fifth starter, although the team has not yet confirmed what his role will be. His main competition for the White Sox' final rotation spot is Bryse Wilson.

Otanez (shoulder) will begin the season on the 15-day injured list, Martin Gallegos of MLB.com reports.

Otanez is just a few days into a 10-day shutdown period with a right shoulder impingement, so it's not a surprise he'll require an IL stint. How long that stint lasts will depend on how Otanez's shoulder responds to rest and a subsequent throwing program.

Fitts allowed three runs on six hits and two walks while striking out one over four-plus innings in Wednesday's Grapefruit League start against Detroit.

Fitts was on the bump for his third Grapefruit League start (fifth appearance) and experienced his first bout of adversity. His day ended after giving up a leadoff home run in the fifth inning on his 73rd pitch. Although manager Alex Cora has not yet announced which starter candidates will make up the back end of the rotation, Fitts looks primed to open the season as one of the five starters. He has a 2.45 ERA with 14 strikeouts and six walks over 14.2 spring innings. With Brayan Bello (shoulder), Lucas Giolito (hamstring) and Kutter Crawford (knee) all expected to open the regular season on the injured list, Fitts could get a few turns in April.

Swanson (forearm) resumed a throwing program Wednesday and "felt good," per Blue Jays manager John Schneider, Hazel Mae of Sportsnet reports.

It's the beginning of what will be a deliberate ramp-up as Swanson works his way back from a median nerve entrapment in his right forearm. The right-handed reliever will begin the season on the 15-day injured list and should be expected to miss at least the first month or so of the season.