With MLBs 2024 regular season officially underway, here are three things worth keeping an eye on for MLBTR readers headed into the weekend: 1. Montgomery deal to be made official: The Diamondbacks landed the last top-tier free agent on the market earlier this week when they signed southpaw to a that includes a vesting option for the 2025 season. Montgomery, 31, helped the Rangers defeat Arizona in the World Series just five months ago but now figures to join the Diamondbacks rotation alongside , , , and when the group is at full strength. Montgomerys deal with the Snakes is expected to be made official today with a pre s conference to introduce the clubs newest arm, as noted by . The club wont need to make a corresponding move to add Montgomery to its 40-man roster after infielder Emmanuel Rivera for a signment yesterday. 2. Steele headed to the IL? It was a rough Opening Day for the Cubs, as the club not only fell 4-3 in extra innings against the Rangers in Texas last night but staff ace in Ray Boone Jersey the fifth inning due to what manager termed a hamstring strain. Counsell did not sound optimistic about Steeles odds of avoiding a trip to the injured list over the i sue and declined to speculate on a timetable for the leftys return to a big league mound in the immediate aftermath of the injury. Instead, Counsell indicated that the club will know more after Steele undergoes an MRI scheduled for today. The 28-year-old hurler has been a major bright spot for the Cubs in recent years and finished fifth in the NL Cy Young award race last season. Since the start of the 2022 campaign, Steele has pitched to an excellent 3.09 ERA with a nearly identical 3.08 FIP in 297 innings of work acro s 55 starts. Steeles dominance continued in his first start of the 2024 campaign, as he held the reigning World Series champions to just one run on three hits and a walk acro s 4 2/3 innings of work while striking out six. While Steele is out of commi sion the Cubs figure to either rely on , who took the lo s last night after entering the game in the tenth inning last night, or else turn to a younger arm currently at Triple-A such as or to fill the gap in their rotation mix. 3. LeMahieu to undergo second MRI: Veteran infielder began the 2024 campaign on the Yankees injured list after fouling a ball off his foot during Spring Training. While it once appeared likely that the injury would result in only a minimal absence, earlier this week reported that the swelling in LeMahieus foot had yet to go down. The club scheduled a second MRI for today in hopes of confirming the severity of the i sue after the injury hadnt improved as much as both player and club were hoping. Its po sible todays testing will provide more clarity on the veterans timetable for return, but in the meantime New York figures to turn to and utilityman at the hot corner in LeMahieus absence. The 35-year-old LeMahieu was roughly league average at the plate in a down season last year but has a strong .285/.358/.430 slash line since joining the Yankees prior to the 2019 season. Justyn-henry Malloy Jersey