Orioles Put Maikel Franco On Injured List

The Baltimore Orioles placed third baseman Maikel Franco (ankle) on the 10-day injured list on Wednesday with a sprained ankle and recalled infielder Kelvin Gutierrez from Triple-A Norfolk in a corresponding move. Franco sprained his ankle last Wednesday and tried to get back into the lineup on Tuesday before getting scratched. The 28-year-old has provided […]

Albert Pujols Starting At First Base Against Lefty

Los Angeles Dodgers first baseman Albert Pujols will draw into the lineup at first base and bat second on Wednesday against Miami Marlins left-hander Ross Detwiler. Pujols doesn't have a ton of upside at this point in his career, but he's been decent with the Dodgers as a part-time player and is hitting a nice […]

Jake Reed To Serve As Opener Against Marlins Wednesday

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Jake Reed will get the nod to start on the mound on Wednesday against the Miami Marlins. Reed will serve as the opener in this one, so fantasy managers shouldn't expect him to go long enough to qualify for a potential win. The 28-year-old has gone just two-thirds of an inning […]

Ryan Brasier Hasn't Cleared Concussion Protocols

Boston Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush said that relief pitcher Ryan Brasier (head) still has not cleared the concussion protocols after he was hit in the head on June 4. Brasier has been throwing every day but has yet to get back on the mound. The 33-year-old right-hander's timetable for a return in the […]

Juan Soto Will Compete In Home Run Derby

Washington Nationals outfielder Juan Soto announced on his Twitter account on Wednesday that he will compete in the 2021 Home Run Derby next Monday at Coors Field. Soto is a first-time All-Star this year and has hit 10 home runs for the Nationals this year. In four major league seasons, the star outfielder has slugged […]

Five Rays Pitchers Combine For Seven-Inning No-Hitter

Five Tampa Bay Rays pitchers combined to throw a seven-inning no-hitter against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader. Because it was only a seven-inning game, it won't officially count as a no-hitter in the history books. Collin McHugh, Josh Fleming, Diego Castillo, Matt Wisler and Pete Fairbanks combined to […]

Mecole Hardman To Enter Camp As No. 2 Receiver

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Mecole Hardman will enter training camp as the second receiver on the depth chart behind Tyreek Hill, and Hardman is in a position to have a breakout season. He's expected to have the role previously held by Sammy Watkins, but it's possible that Byron Pringle or Demarcus Robinson could push […]

Amari Cooper Could Be Cutting It Close For Training Camp

Dallas Cowboys wide receiver Amari Cooper (foot) is still recovering from foot surgery, and with the team scheduled to depart for training camp on July 20 with the first workout scheduled for July 22, Cooper will be "cutting it close" in terms of his rehab being complete in time for a debut on the first […]

Dee Strange-Gordon Agrees With Pirates

The Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to a minor league deal with infielder Dee Strange-Gordon on Wednesday, according to a source. Strange-Gordon will report to Triple-A Indianapolis. The 33-year-old has now been with four National League Central teams this year -- the Cincinnati Reds, Milwaukee Brewers, Chicago Cubs and now Pirates. And he's yet to appear in […]

Joey Gallo Will Participate In Home Run Derby

Texas Rangers outfielder Joey Gallo will take part in this year's Home Run Derby during the All-Star festivities next week at Coors Field. Gallo has monster power from the left side of the plate, so he should put on a show in the hitter-friendly ballpark and could even be the favorite. The 27-year-old slugger is […]

Ozzie Albies Leaves Early With Neck Tightness

Atlanta Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies (neck) was removed from the game early on Wednesday against the Pittsburgh Pirates as a precaution with tightness in his neck. Albies managed to go 1-for-3 and scored a run before he was pulled from the contest. Until we know more about his injury, fantasy managers should consider him […]

Justin Upton Likely To Be Activated After All-Star Break

Los Angeles Angels left fielder Justin Upton (back) is likely to be activated from the injured list after the All-Star break, according to manager Joe Maddon. "It hasn't progressed like we thought. I thought he'd be playing several days ago. It has not loosened up for him. Has a tightness he can't get rid of," […]

Chris Sale Will Be Built Back Up Before Being Activated

Boston Red Sox pitching coach Dave Bush said that the plan is for starting pitcher Chris Sale (elbow) to be built all the way up to five or six innings before he's activated from the injured list. Sale is getting closer to a return and has been facing live hitters in live batting practice sessions, […]

Josh Fleming Activated, To Serve As Bulk Pitcher In Game 2

The Tampa Bay Rays activated left-hander Josh Fleming (calf) from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned left-hander Ryan Sherriff to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Fleming is slated to serve as the bulk pitcher in Game 2 of the doubleheader against the Cleveland Indians on Wednesday behind opener Collin McHugh. Fleming, 25, […]

White Sox Confident Yasmani Grandal Can Return This Year

The Chicago White Sox remain confident that catcher Yasmani Grandal (knee) can return this year after having surgery on Wednesday to fix a torn left knee tendon. Grandal is expected to be out for four to six weeks. The 32-year-old switch-hitter has been good for power (14 home runs) and on-base percentage (.388), but there […]

Marwin Gonzalez Won't Be Available Wednesday

Boston Red Sox utility man Marwin Gonzalez (hamstring) won't be available on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Angels. Gonzalez left the game early on Monday with right hamstring tightness and was also unavailable on Tuesday. Boston is short on depth with outfielder Danny Santana likely to need an injured list stint before the All-Star break. […]

Adalberto Mondesi Taking Ground Balls

Kansas City Royals shortstop Adalberto Mondesi (oblique) is taking ground balls before the game on Wednesday. Mondesi is slowly working his way back into baseball activities after straining his left oblique on June 21. The speedy 25-year-old has already been on the injured list three separate times this year, so the Royals are understandably being […]

Kyle Farmer Out With Body Soreness

Cincinnati Reds manager David Bell said that shortstop Kyle Farmer is dealing with "body soreness" and is the reason he's resting on Wednesday against the Kansas City Royals. It comes after Farmer went 3-for-4 with a double, his seventh home run of the season and two RBI in the loss to the Royals on Tuesday […]

J.D. Davis Not Expected To Return Before All-Star Break

New York Mets manager Luis Rojas said he doesn't "feel strongly" that third baseman J.D. Davis (finger) will be activated from the 60-day injured list before the All-Star break. The Mets are playing it safe here after they just got Jonathan Villar back from the injured list on Sunday. The 28-year-old Davis should be back […]

Jacob deGrom Could Be Used On Sunday

The New York Mets are considering using starting pitcher Jacob deGrom, at least briefly, against the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday on short rest. Manager Luis Rojas said that it could be a start on Sunday for deGrom. The Mets would be comfortable doing it on short rest if they treat it as deGrom's bullpen day. […]

Jonathan Villar On The Bench In Game 1

New York Mets infielder Jonathan Villar is not in the starting lineup for Game 1 of a doubleheader against the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday. Luis Guillorme will get the nod at the hot corner and will hit seventh against Brewers right-hander Corbin Burnes. Villar will likely return to the lineup in the second game of […]

Logan Allen Sent Down Again

The Cleveland Indians optioned left-hander Logan Allen to Triple-A Columbus while recalling outfielder Daniel Johnson and infielder Owen Miller from Triple-A Columbus in corresponding moves. The team also brought up right-hander D.J. Johnson. Miller will be serving as the 27th man for the doubleheader against the Tampa Bay Rays. With Allen back in the minors, […]

Niko Goodrum Back With The Tigers

The Detroit Tigers activated utility man Niko Goodrum (finger) from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday. Goodrum has been out since June 19 with a sprained tendon in his left index finger, but he should continue to serve as a super-utility man around the diamond for the Tigers. However, he's not in the starting lineup […]

Braves Call Up Jonathan Lucroy

The Atlanta Braves called up catcher Jonathan Lucroy from Triple-A Gwinnett on Wednesday and optioned catcher William Contreras to Gwinnett in a corresponding move. The team also transferred left-hander Grant Dayton (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list. The veteran Lucroy had five hits in 14 at-bats with the Washington Nationals earlier this season but had […]

Vidal Brujan Debuting In Game 1 Of Doubleheader

Tampa Bay Rays infield prospect Vidal Brujan is starting at second base and hitting fifth in his major league debut in the first game of a doubleheader on Wednesday against Cleveland Indians right-hander J.C. Mejia. Brujan, the team's No. 2 prospect behind Wander Franco, was hitting .259/.344/.471 with nine home runs, 37 runs scored, 29 […]

Craig Kimbrel Will Be The Most Coveted Trade Target

With the Chicago Cubs losing their 10th straight game on Monday, it's looking more likely that they'll be sellers at the trade deadline, and closer Craig Kimbrel is expected to be the most coveted player on the trade market. The Boston Red Sox could be a natural landing spot for Kimbrel, who played in Beantown […]

Travis d'Arnaud Continues With Baseball Activities

Atlanta Braves catcher Travis d'Arnaud (thumb), who is on the 60-day injured list with torn ligaments in his left thumb, continues to throw, hit with one hand and do conditioning exercises. However, until he regains more strength in his surgically repaired hand, the Braves aren't setting a start date for his rehab assignment. If he […]

John Means To Make Another Rehab Start Friday

Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher John Means (shoulder) began his minor league rehab assignment with a two-inning outing for High-A Aberdeen on July 3 and is scheduled to make two more rehab outings, with the next one coming on Friday, July 9, at Double-A Bowie. The talented left-hander should be back at the top of Baltimore's […]

Don't Sleep On Christian Kirk

Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Christian Kirk could be in for a breakout season in 2021 as he picks up some of Larry Fitzgerald's targets and overall production next to All-Pro DeAndre Hopkins. Kirk could be a great complement to Hopkins and better than aging pass-catcher A.J. Green while playing from the slot. The 24-year-old also […]

Irv Smith Jr. Will Have Plenty Of Opportunity

The Minnesota Vikings have downplayed any role expansion for tight end Irv Smith Jr. now that Kyle Rudolph is in New York, but the Vikings only have two other proven pass-catchers on the roster in Adam Thielen and Justin Jefferson. Smith has flashed some intriguing potential and will have more opportunities in 2021 on a […]