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 […]

Amari Rodgers Is One To Watch In Green Bay

Green Bay Packers rookie wide receiver/return specialist Amari Rodgers could be the team's breakout player in his first year in the NFL. The third-round pick out of Clemson is a natural slot receiver, which is something the Packers have lacked, and is also a very skilled kick returner. The 5-foot-9, 212-pounder can also serve out […]

Diamondbacks Call Up Stuart Fairchild Tuesday

The Arizona Diamondbacks recalled outfielder Stuart Fairchild from Triple-A Reno on Tuesday and optioned outfielder Nick Heath to Reno in a corresponding move. Fairchild, the team's No. 14 prospect per MLB Pipeline, had five home runs in his last 15 games for Reno. The 25-year-old right-handed hitter has a chance to earn an everyday role […]

Tyler Beede Called Up, Jaylin Davis To The Injured List

The San Francisco Giants called up right-hander Tyler Beede from Triple-A Sacramento on Tuesday and placed outfielder Jaylin Davis (hamstring) on the injured list with a Grade 1 hamstring strain in a corresponding move. Outfielder Jason Vosler was also called up from Sacramento, while right-hander Jimmie Sherfy was designated for assignment. Beede will be making […]

Aaron Sanchez, Reyes Moronta Making Progress

San Francisco Giants right-handers Aaron Sanchez (finger) and Reyes Moronta (elbow) are making progress from their respective injuries. Sanchez threw two innings (40 pitches) during a live batting practice session on Tuesday. He's been out since May 5 with biceps tendinitis and has also been battling more blister issues on his throwing hand. The 29-year-old […]

Brandon Belt Does Some Hitting, Throwing

San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt (knee) hit off a tee and threw out to 110 feet on Tuesday. Belt is opting to rehab his injured knee instead of undergoing what would likely be season-ending surgery. The 33-year-old still doesn't have a timetable for a return, but it's nice to know that he's already […]

Jaylin Davis Diagnosed With Grade 1 Hamstring Strain

San Francisco Giants outfielder Jaylin Davis (hamstring) was diagnosed with a Grade 1 left hamstring strain after undergoing an MRI exam on Tuesday. Davis suffered the injury on Monday night and was forced to leave the game, and he could be headed for a stint on the injured list. It's a tough blow after he […]

Kyle Tucker Returns To The Lineup

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker (back) is returning to the starting lineup on Tuesday and will hit sixth and start in right field against Oakland Athletics right-hander Chris Bassitt. Tucker is back in there after missing the last three games because of back spasms. The 24-year-old has been pretty steady in 2021 with a .264/.323/.476 […]

Dallas Goedert Has Top-Five TE Potential

With Philadelphia Eagles tight end Zach Ertz likely to go elsewhere, Dallas Goedert is expected to take over as the team's No. 1 tight end in 2021. Goedert will have true breakout potential and will be featured in head coach Nick Sirianni's offense. The 26-year-old ranks 13th among tight ends in receiving yards since he […]

Kenyan Drake Expects To Play A More Versatile Role

Las Vegas Raiders running back Kenyan Drake wasn't thrilled about being pigeonholed as an early down back with the Arizona Cardinals and said he expects to play a more versatile role alongside Josh Jacobs in his new home. Head coach Jon Gruden unsurprisingly loves Drake's skill set and versatility, but it remains to be seen […]

Corey Oswalt Lands On Injured List

The New York Mets placed right-hander Corey Oswalt (knee) on the 10-day injured list on Tuesday with right knee inflammation and recalled right-hander Robert Stock from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Oswalt suffered the injury in his first start of the season on Sunday against the New York Yankees. He had a 3.48 ERA, […]

Mychal Givens Activated From Injured List

The Colorado Rockies activated relief pitcher Mychal Givens (back) from the 10-day injured list on Tuesday and optioned left-hander Ben Bowden to Triple-A Albuquerque in a corresponding move. Givens has been out since June 17 with a lower back strain, but he'll return to Colorado's bullpen with a nice 2.78 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 25/11 […]

No Players Opting Out Of The 2021 Season

No NFL players are believed to have opted out of the 2021 season, according to a source. The deadline to inform teams was last Friday, and no such transactions were submitted for Tuesday's personnel notice after the holiday weekend. A vast majority of NFL players and staff have already gotten their COVID-19 vaccines, which has […]