Ceddanne Rafaela Hitting Second After Walking Off the Rays on Friday

Boston Red Sox infielder/outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela was the hero in Friday night's 5-4 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Fenway Park, blasting a walk-off, two-run home run in the ninth inning to send the home fans away happy. Rafaela, who is starting at second base on Saturday, will now be rewarded with a move […]

Ian Happ Drops Down to Seventh Spot in Batting Order

Chicago Cubs outfielder Ian Happ has been dropped to seventh in the batting order for the second game of the series in the Bronx on Saturday against the hosting New York Yankees and left-hander Max Fried. Second baseman Nico Hoerner will bat leadoff for the Cubbies. Happ didn't even start against lefty Carlos Rodon in […]

Cody Bellinger Moves Up to Two-Hole After Three-Homer Game

New York Yankees outfielder Cody Bellinger took it to his former team, the Chicago Cubs, in Friday night's 11-0 blowout win in the Bronx by clubbing three home runs and driving in six runs. Bellinger could have had a fourth round-tripper in the series opener if not for right fielder Kyle Tucker robbing him at […]

Sauce Gardner Wants to be Highest-Paid Cornerback

The Athletic's Zack Rosenblatt writes that New York Jets cornerback Sauce Gardner wants to be the highest-paid cornerback in the league. Additionally, the Jets need to figure out when to extend wide receiver Garrett Wilson, who is seeking in the range of $25-30 million per year. Gardner has stated that he would like to retire […]

Rhamondre Stevenson Heading into an Important Season

The New England Patriots gave running back Rhamondre Stevenson a four-year, $36 million extension last summer, which kicks in for the 2025 season. The Athletic's Chad Graff writes that the extension for Stevenson already looks like a bad move after he had 207 carries for 807 yards (career-low 3.9 yards per carry) last year, although […]

Josh Metellus, Vikings Have Mutual Interest in Extension

The Athletic's Alec Lewis writes that safety Josh Metellus and the Minnesota Vikings have mutual interest in hammering out a contract extension, but it remains to be seen if they can find common ground on a deal. Metellus has been an integral contributor for defensive coordinator Brian Flores for his ability to play as a […]

2025 Could be Tua Tagovailoa's Last Season in Miami

While it's probably unlikely, The Athletic's Jim Ayello points out there's a chance that the 2025 season is quarterback Tua Tagovailoa's last year with the Miami Dolphins. The Dolphins aren't in a pretty salary-cap situation moving forward, so if they have a five- or six-win season this year, it's possible that ownership decides it's time […]

Rashawn Slater has "Full Confidence" a Deal Will Get Done

The Los Angeles Chargers and left tackle Rashawn Slater remain in contract-extension negotiations, but Slater said during mandatory minicamp in June that he had "full confidence" that a deal would get done. Slater is currently scheduled to play on his $19.04 million fifth-year option in 2025. The Athletic's Daniel Popper writes that the 26-year-old is […]

Byron Buxton Returns on Friday

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (hand) is back in center field and will bat in his customary leadoff spot for Friday's series opener at Target Field against the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates and right-hander Paul Skenes. Buxton was hit by a pitch on his left hand in Wednesday's win over the Chicago Cubs, but thankfully he […]

Jacob Wilson Remains Absent From A's Lineup

Athletics shortstop Jacob Wilson (hand) will miss a third straight game for Friday's series opener against the visiting Toronto Blue Jays in Sacramento. With Wilson still nursing a left-hand injury, Max Muncy will shift to shortstop and will bat seventh against Blue Jays right-hander Max Scherzer. Wilson is being considered day-to-day, so there's hope he […]

Nolan Schanuel Returns to Action on Friday

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Nolan Schanuel (calf) is starting at first base and batting second for Friday's series opener against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Ryne Nelson. Schanuel was held out of Thursday's series finale against the Texas Rangers as a precaution due to tightness in his calf, but he's feeling fine a […]

Corbin Carroll Out on Friday

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Corbin Carroll is taking the day off for Friday's series opener on the road against the Los Angeles Angels with left-hander Tyler Anderson on the mound. Instead, veteran Randal Grichuk will start in right field and will hit sixth versus Anderson. It will be Carroll's day of rest since he came off […]

Brice Matthews Hitting Eighth in MLB Debut

Houston Astros infield prospect Brice Matthews is starting at second base and is batting eighth in his major-league debut for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Texas Rangers and right-hander Jack Leiter at Daikin Park. Matthews, who is ranked as the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, was called up from Triple-A Sugar Land after […]

Jake Meyers Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Calf Strain

The Houston Astros placed outfielder Jake Meyers (calf) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 10) on Friday with a right-calf strain and recalled infield prospect Brice Matthews from the minors in a corresponding move, according to MLB.com's Brian McTaggart. Infielder/outfielder Zach Dezenzo (hand) was also moved to the 60-day IL. Meyers aggravated his […]

Brandon Lowe Placed on 10-Day Injured List With Oblique Tightness

The Tampa Bay Rays placed infielder Brandon Lowe (oblique) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 8) on Friday with left-oblique tightness and recalled infielder Curtis Mead from Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Lowe initially injured his oblique in Sunday's game against the Minnesota Twins, and now he'll be out through the All-Star […]

Jesse Winker Heads Back to Injured List

The New York Mets announced on Friday that they placed outfielder Jesse Winker (back) on the 10-day injured list with back inflammation and recalled infielder Jared Young from Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Winker had just returned from the 60-day IL due to an oblique injury not long ago, but now he's headed back […]

Kodai Senga Reinstated to Start on Friday

The New York Mets announced on Friday that they reinstated right-hander Kodai Senga (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list and optioned right-hander Justin Hagenman to Triple-A Syracuse in a corresponding move. Senga will return from a near month-long absence due to a strained right hamstring to face the Kansas City Royals in the series opener […]

Alex Bregman Officially Activated and Starting on Friday

Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (quadriceps) was officially activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday and is starting at third and batting second at Fenway Park against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays and right-hander Drew Rasmussen. Rookie Marcelo Mayer will move over to second base and will hit seventh. Bregman is back […]

Cubs Could Look for 3B Help With Matt Shaw Struggling

MLB.com's Jordan Bastian suggests that the Chicago Cubs could look for help at third base at this year's trade deadline with rookie Matt Shaw continuing to struggle. The Cubs gave the slumping Shaw a day off for Wednesday's series finale against the Minnesota Twins, as the 23-year-old former first-rounder is now hitting just .200 (41-for-205) […]

Thairo Estrada Missing Third Straight Game

Colorado Rockies infielder Thairo Estrada (thumb) is out of the team's starting lineup on Friday against the hosting Cincinnati Reds for the third straight game while dealing with a jammed left thumb. Kyle Farmer will get the starting nod at second base and will hit in the eight-hole in the series opener against Reds rookie […]

Lars Nootbaar Back in Cardinals Lineup on Friday

St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Lars Nootbaar (ribs) is starting in left field and will bat fifth in Friday's series opener against the visiting Atlanta Braves and right-hander Grant Holmes at Busch Stadium. Nootbaar has been bothered by a rib injury dating back to last week, and he was forced out of Thursday's contest prematurely with […]

DL Hall Opening in Front of Quinn Priester on Friday

Milwaukee Brewers left-hander DL Hall will serve as the opener for Friday's series opener at American Family Field against the visiting Washington Nationals, with right-hander Quinn Priester serving as the bulk reliever, according to MLB.com's Adam McCalvy. Hall could give a bit more length than a traditional opener, as he's gone three innings in both […]

Alex Bregman Expected to Return on Friday

Mass Live's Chris Cotillo expects Boston Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman (quadriceps) to come off the 10-day injured list to rejoin the team before Friday's game at Fenway Park against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays. Bregman should be in the starting lineup on Friday against Rays right-hander Drew Rasmussen after missing 43 games with […]

Chiefs, Trey Smith Expected to Work Out Long-Term Extension

The Kansas City Chiefs welcomed back franchise-tagged offensive guard Trey Smith to mandatory minicamp last month, a good sign that both sides will eventually work out a new long-term contract extension, according to The Athletic's Zak Keefer. "There's no secret we'd like to get Trey locked up," general manager Brett Veach said earlier this year. […]

Bernhard Raimann a Candidate for an Extension This Summer

The Athletic's James Boyd writes that Indianapolis Colts left tackle Bernhard Raimann is a candidate to receive a contract extension from the team, possibly as early as this summer. The former third-round selection in 2022 is entering the final year of hi four-year, $5.3 million rookie deal. Raimann initially struggled when he was thrust into […]

C.J. Stroud Could Sign Multi-Year Deal Before 2026 Season

If Houston Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud has a strong 2025 season, it's more likely that the team will work out a multi-year contract extension with him before the start of the 2026 campaign, writes The Athletic's Mike Jones. Stroud took the league by storm in 2023 as a rookie but regressed last year because of […]

Kyle Juszczyk Says Christian McCaffrey Looks Healthy, Explosive

San Francisco 49ers fullback Kyle Juszczyk said that running back Christian McCaffrey (knee) "looks incredible. He looks so healthy, he looks so explosive." McCaffrey got a late start to the 2024 season due to bilateral Achilles tendinitis before spraining the PCL in his knee in Week 13. All in all, the 29-year-old All-Pro back played […]

Kyren Williams Showing Improved Explosiveness

Los Angeles Rams running backs coach Ron Gould has noticed this offseason that running back Kyren Williams is more explosive. Williams ranked seventh in the league with 1,299 rushing yards in 2024 and tied for fifth with 14 rushing touchdowns. However, his 27 explosive rushes of 10-plus yards ranked tid for 11th in the NFL. […]

Brandon Aiyuk Likely to Begin Season on PUP List, but Not Ruled Out for Week 1

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Brandon Aiyuk (knee) is expected to start the 2025 season on the Physically Unable to Perform list, which would sideline him for the first four games as he recovers from ACL and MCL tears in his right knee that he suffered in October of last year, per 49ers Webzone's David […]

Jameson Williams Not in the Team's Long-Term Plans?

The Athletic's Colton Pouncy writes that Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes has paused when discussing wide receiver Jameson Williams' future with the team, even though coaches have raved about him this offseason following a breakout 2024 campaign in which he caught 58 passes for 1,001 yards and seven touchdowns during the regular season. Pouncy […]