Arizona Diamondbacks

Zac Gallen will start on the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks against the Los Angeles Dodgers Thursday night. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Gallen will look to live up to plenty of preseason buzz for fantasy managers after finishing the 2022 season with a 9.4 K/9 ratio to go along with a 0.91 WHIP over 31 starts (12-4) on the mound.

Drey Jameson will start the season in the Diamondbacks' bullpen as Ryne Nelson will be the fifth starter. (Source: Nick Piecoro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Jameson will remain as stretched out as possible and the Dbacks still view him as a starter in the long term. They opt to have him with the big league club as one of their 13 best pitchers as opposed to sending him down to Triple-A. He will likely start a few games throughout the season, but he could also stick in the bullpen if he finds success there. He had a 1.48 ERA and a 24/7 K/BB ratio in 24.1 innings in 2022 with Arizona.

Ryne Nelson has been named as the fifth starter for the Diamondbacks. (Source: Nick Piecoro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The final spot in the Diamondbacks rotation had been a battle this spring, and Nelson has shown enough to win that spot to start the season. The 25-year-old looked good in 3 starts in the big leagues last season, throwing 18.1 innings with a 1.47 ERA and 16 strikeouts.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have released reliever Jeurys Familia. (Source: Nick Piecoro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Familia had an out in his minor-league contract and the club simply released him Friday as he was told he will not make the team. The veteran reliever struggled to a 6.09 ERA in 48 outings between the Phillies and Red Six last season but also has a 3.94 ERA or better in three of his last five seasons. Don't be surprised if the 33-year-old latches on with another club when an experienced bullpen arm is desired this season.

Jake McCarthy (illness) is expected to return to the lineup Friday. (Source: Jake Anderson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: McCarthy returned to the Diamondbacks on Thursday after being away from the team for five days. He has reportedly told manager Torey Lovullo that he is good to go for Friday, so there is no reason to believe he won't be back out there. McCarthy hit .283 with 23 steals in 99 games in 2022 and could be among the league leaders in steals if he plays a full season.

Ketel Marte was scratched from the lineup Thursday due to an illness. (Source: Jake Anderson on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: The specifics of the illness aren't clear at the moment, but it is not COVID related. Marte rejoined the team earlier this week after the World Baseball Classic and will look to get some at-bats in with the Dbacks before the start of the season.

Carson Kelly has a fractured right forearm, per manager Torey Lovullo. (Source: Nick Piecoro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Lovullo did not offer an exact timetable for Kelly's return, but he is expected to miss some time. Gabriel Moreno is expected to take over behind the plate to open the season for Arizona.

Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Gabriel Moreno left Saturday's game early after getting hit by a pitch in the wrist/hand area. (Source: Nick Piecoro on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: It's a scary development for both the team and player after the D-backs acquired the former top prospect in an off-season trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. Moreno's elite contact skills were on full display in a 25-game cameo with the Blue Jays last season as he hit .319 with a minuscule 11% K-rate across 73 trips to the plate. His power remains in development mode but the 23-year-old is well on his way to a productive big-league career at the plate.

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Josh Rojas was held out of Saturday's lineup due to overall fatigue. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: It appears the absence isn't injury-related but rather a breather for the 28-year-old infielder. Rojas enjoyed a career year in 2022, hitting nine homers with a career-best 23 stolen bases along with a .740 OPS while seeing time at both second and third base a season ago. His speed and defensive versatility could help him surpass 500 plate appearances for the third straight season in 2023.

Arizona Diamondbacks reliever Andrew Chafin threw a bullpen session Saturday as he recovers from groin tightness. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Chafin began the 2022 season on the injured list with the same injury, so the D-backs are taking a cautious approach with the left-hander this spring. The veteran returned to the organization he spent parts of seven seasons with this winter on the heels of a 2.83 ERA and 27.6% K% while with the Tigers in 2022. He's been among the very best left-handed relievers in baseball over the last two seasons and is the owner of a career 3.23 ERA across 476 big-league outings.

Corbin Carroll and the Diamondbacks have agreed to an eight-year, $111 million contract extension. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Carroll, who is only 22 years old, will now be the main centerpiece of a young Diamondbacks team. Carroll slashed .260/.330/.500, with four home runs, and 14 RBI in 32 games last season. With the extension, Carroll will not hit free agency until after he turns 30 years old.

Madison Bumgarner said after his spring training debut that he likes the new rules. (Source: MLB.com)

Fantasy Impact: Bumgarner gave up two runs across three innings of work. “First one of the year, even for me, it still moves faster than others,” Bumgarner said. “Kind of reevaluate after this one, and the next one will hopefully be a little better, and we can work on what shows up.” This was his first start with the new pitch clock. “Out of all the rules changes [over my career], I probably like this one the most,” Bumgarner said.

P.J. Higgins has signed a minor-league deal with the Arizona Diamondbacks. He has a non-roster invite to spring training. (Source: Jon Heyman on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Higgins hit .229/.310/.383 with a 97 wRC+ in 74 games with the Cubs last season. With the Dbacks' acquisition of Gabriel Moreno alongside Carson Kelly, it might be tough for Higgins to crack the MLB roster to start the season.

The Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks are in agreement on a trade that will send outfielder Daulton Varsho to the Blue Jays for a package that includes top catching prospect Gabriel Moreno. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: After trading Teoscar Hernandez to the Mariners earlier in the offseason, the Blue Jays have been in the market for an outfielder. They were connected to free agents like Michael Conforto and Brandon Nimmo, but they decided to hit the trade market for Varsho. He hit 27 home runs to go along with 16 stolen bases and hit .235 with an OPS of .745 last season with Arizona. His fantasy value sees a pretty big upgrade moving to a significantly better lineup in Toronto.

Cooper Hummel has been traded from Arizona to Seattle. (Source: Jeff Passan on Twitter )

Fantasy Impact: Hummel made his MLB debut for Arizona last season at 27 years old. His season was less than stellar, but Hummel provides depth at catcher and outfield for the Mariners.

The Arizona Diamondbacks claimed Cole Sulser off waivers from the Marlins Wednesday. (Source: Diamondbacks on Twitter)

Fantasy Impact: Sulser posted a 5.29 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 39 appearances with the Marlins last season. The 32-year-old veteran will provide the Diamondbacks with a depth option in their bullpen heading into 2023.

Merrill Kelly tossed six strong innings on the mound for the Diamondbacks Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits while also walking two and striking out seven in the Diamondbacks' 4-2 win over the Brewers.

Fantasy Impact: Kelly allowed three runs or less in four of his last seven starts on the mound for the Diamondbacks, posting a 42K/13BB ratio in that span. The right-hander finishes the season with a 1.14 WHIP and 3.37 ERA with 177 strikeouts through 33 starts (13-8) on the mound.

Pavin Smith went 3-for-4 Wednesday, singling twice, doubling, and scoring one run in the Diamondbacks' 4-2 win over the Brewers.

Fantasy Impact: Smith continued to swing a hot bat at the plate to end the season, hitting .354 with six runs scored, one home run, and six runs batted in over his last 15 games. The 26-year-old finishes an inconsistent 2022 hitting .220 with 24 runs scored, nine home runs, and 33 runs batted in through 75 games this season.

Christian Walker went 3-for-4 Wednesday, singling three times and driving in one run in the Diamondbacks' 4-2 win over the Brewers.

Fantasy Impact: Walker finishes the season on a hot stretch at the plate, posting an .875 OPS with three runs scored, and six runs batted in over his last seven games. The 31-year-old slugger finishes the season posting an .804 OPS with 84 runs scored, 36 home runs, and 94 runs batted in through 160 games.

Sergio Alcantara went 1-for-3 Monday, belting a three-run home run in the Diamondbacks' 6-5 loss to the Brewers.

Fantasy Impact: Alcantara has gotten hits in eight of his last 10 games for the Diamondbacks, scoring four runs and driving in seven runs in that span. The 26-year-old is hitting .221 with 26 runs scored, six home runs, and 29 runs batted in through 91 games this season.