Ildemaro Vargas Leading Off Thursday

Arizona Diamondbacks infielder Ildemaro Vargas is starting at third base and is hitting leadoff against Braves starting pitcher Mike Soroka on Thursday. Eduardo Escobar is taking the day off in the matinee game as his struggles at the plate to start the year continue. Shortstop Nick Ahmed is also getting a breather Thursday. While the […]

Addison Russell To Start Playing In Minor League Games

Chicago Cubs suspended shortstop Addison Russell will begin playing in minor league games for a seven-day stint a week from now. "He has been compliant with everything we have asked him to do and then some," general manager Jed Hoyer said. Russell is serving a 40-game suspension for domestic abuse, but there's no guarantee he […]

George Kittle Played Through Fractured Rib Cartilage

San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle said he suffered "fractured cartilage" in his ribs early in the game against the Raiders last year but played through it. San Fran played Oakland on Nov. 1, so that means Kittle played around half the season after suffering that injury. The second-year professional had a truly breakout […]

Cowboys Will Pick Up Ezekiel Elliott's Option

Dallas Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones said that the team will pick up running back Ezekiel Elliott's fifth-year option. The 23-year-old has two 1,000-yard seasons in his three years in the NFL and ran 304 times for 1,434 yards and six touchdowns in his 15 games last year. He also caught a career-high 77 […]

Asdrubal Cabrera Injures Finger Wednesday

Texas Rangers infielder Asdrubal Cabrera was removed from the game early on Wednesday after he appeared to jam his fingers on his right hand while diving back to first base on a pickoff attempt. Cabrera had a single, run scored and a walk in his three plate appearances before getting injured. He's off to a […]

Hunter Wood To Start Thursday Against Orioles

Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Hunter Wood will make the start as the opener on Thursday against the Orioles. Wood has one save and has thrown four scoreless innings in his two relief outings for Tampa so far this year. He had a 3.73 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 4.0 K/9 in eight outings (three starts) in […]

Rich Hill Has Successful Rehab Start

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Rich Hill (knee) tossed four scoreless innings for Single-A Rancho Cucamonga on Wednesday, allowing only two hits while striking out eight on 54 pitches. His fastball sat around his usual 89-92 mph. The veteran left-hander was hoping to make only one rehab start before making his season debut with the […]

David Dahl, Ryan McMahon Could Return Thursday

Colorado Rockies outfielder David Dahl (core) and second baseman Ryan McMahon (elbow) have rejoined the team in Denver and could both be activated from the injured list if their evaluations go as planned on Thursday. Dahl and McMahon should return to being near everyday players, with Dahl in center field and McMahon rotating at second […]

Christin Stewart Injured Wednesday

Detroit Tigers outfielder Christin Stewart suffered a right medial quadriceps spasm in the loss on Wednesday and had to be removed from the game early. He'll be examined on Thursday and we'll have more details on the severity of the injury then. Stewart told manager Ron Gardenhire that he injured himself running out a fly […]

Dustin Pedroia To Visit With Doctor Thursday

Boston Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia said he felt "something weird" in his knee during a swing in his at-bat on Wednesday and will stay in New York and visit with a doctor on Thursday. The 35-year-old missed basically all of last season with knee issues following surgery, so this doesn't sound like good […]

Daniel Palka Sent To Minors

The Chicago White Sox optioned outfielder Daniel Palka to Triple-A Charlotte after the game on Wednesday. Palka, who led the team with 27 home runs as a rookie in 2018, got his first hit in 35 at-bats on Wednesday before he was sent down. The Sox want Palka to work on his swing, and eventually […]

Corbin Burnes In Danger Of Losing Rotation Spot

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell admitted that the team will have a talk with starting pitcher Corbin Burnes after another rough outing in a loss to the Cardinals on Wednesday. The hard-throwing right-hander allowed nine hits and another two home runs while giving up five earned runs in 3 1/3 innings to St. Louis on […]

No Concussion For Yoan Moncada

Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada (head) tested negative for a concussion after being hit in the head while attempting to steal in the game on Wednesday. Moncada had a single and stolen base in his three plate appearances and is hitting a nice .333/.370/.638 with six doubles, five home runs, 15 runs, 16 […]

Francisco Lindor To Be Re-Evaluated Friday

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (ankle) was 0-for-4 as the designated hitter for Triple-A Columbus on Wednesday and is scheduled to play shortstop again on Thursday. Manager Terry Francona said Lindor will rejoin the team on Friday and be reassessed. It's possible that Lindor could be activated from the injured list to make his season […]

Carlos Santana's Hamstring Injury Not Serious

Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana was out of the starting lineup on Wednesday with some hamstring tightness, but manager Terry Francona just wanted to give Santana an extra day of rest with an off day on Thursday. The switch-hitter is batting a cool .389/.515/.537 with a homer, 12 runs and 11 RBI in 54 […]

Jordy Mercer Expects To Be Ready Soon

Detroit Tigers shortstop Jordy Mercer (quadriceps) ran on an elliptical machine on Wednesday and felt fine. He expects to be ready to come off the 10-day injured list around when he's eligible to return next Wednesday. Mercer is a glove-first shortstop that was hitting .233 (10-for-43) with no homers and two RBI at the time […]

Brian Dozier Dealing With Sore Toe

Washington Nationals second baseman Brian Dozier is dealing with a sore toe after he fouled a pitch off his foot recently. He had to get the toe drained on Tuesday, according to manager Dave Martinez. It helps explain why he's not starting on Wednesday, but the Nats could also give him more time off. The […]

Cam Newton Close To Throwing

Carolina Panthers head coach Ron Rivera said that quarterback Cam Newton (shoulder) is getting close to throwing again. There remains no timetable for Newton to return to action, however. It's the second straight offseason that Newton has had shoulder surgery. The 29-year-old remains one of the best dual-threat QBs in the league, but his shoulder […]

Odubel Herrera Should Be Fine

Updating a previous report, Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Odubel Herrera left the game early on Wednesday due to a cramp in his right hamstring. The Phillies aren't very concerned. Herrera had a single and a strikeout in his two plate appearances and is now hitting .270/.319/.381 with a homer, seven runs scored and seven RBI on […]

Jacob deGrom Pushed Back With Illness

New York Mets starting pitcher Jacob deGrom is dealing with strep throat and will have his next start pushed back from Friday to Saturday against the Cardinals. Jason Vargas will go on Friday. deGrom hasn't been himself in his last two starts, and maybe this has a little something to do with it. The 2018 […]

Albert Pujols On The Bench Wednesday

Los Angeles Angels first baseman Albert Pujols is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday. Justin Bour is at first base and is hitting third, while Mike Trout remains at designated hitter and will bat second against Rangers starter Lance Lynn. The Angels are easing Trout in after he missed some games last week with […]

Arodys Vizcaino's Season Is Over

Atlanta Braves relief pitcher Arodys Vizcaino underwent season-ending shoulder surgery on Wednesday to repair his labrum and remove scar tissue. Vizcaino's shoulder issues date back to last season, when he was relieved of his closing duties by A.J. Minter, who now gains a bunch of fantasy value for the remainder of the season. Chad Sobotka […]

Brian Dozier, Ryan Zimmerman Sitting Wednesday

Washington Nationals second baseman Brian Dozier and first baseman Ryan Zimmerman are both out of the starting lineup on Wednesday. Howie Kendrick is at the keystone and is batting fifth, while Matt Adams gets the nod at first and is hitting cleanup against Giants starter Jeff Samardzija. Dozier (.152 average, one homer) and Zimmerman (.188 […]

Dee Gordon Resting Wednesday

Seattle Mariners second baseman Dee Gordon is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday. Dylan Moore will get the start at second and will hit ninth against Indians starting pitcher Carlos Carrasco. Carrasco hasn't quite been himself to start the year, but he's a daunting matchup nevertheless. Moore also has just four hits in 23 […]

Mitch Haniger Scratched With Illness

Seattle Mariners outfielder Mitch Haniger was scratched from the lineup on Wednesday with an illness. Mallex Smith is in center field and is hitting leadoff against Indians starter Carlos Carrasco. Haniger has been very solid so far this year after breaking out in 2018, so hopefully he only misses this one game. Smith is hitting […]

Carlos Santana Not Playing Against Mariners

Cleveland Indians first baseman Carlos Santana is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday. Jake Bauers will play first base and hit sixth against Mariners starting pitcher Erik Swanson. Tyler Naquin is serving as the designated hitter and batting fifth. Bauers is off to a rough start with his new team, hitting .200 (10-for-50) with […]

Jose Peraza Sitting Wednesday

Cincinnati Reds second baseman Jose Peraza is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday. Derek Dietrich is starting at the keystone and is hitting fifth against Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler. After a breakout year in 2018, Peraza has disappointed so far in 2019, hitting .154/.170/.231 with a homer, RBI and stolen base in 16 […]

Gary Sanchez Expected To Be Ready To Return Sunday

New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez (calf) ran on the field on Wednesday and has been catching from a machine. He will take batting practice on Thursday and thinks he will be ready to play when he's eligible to come off the injured list on Sunday. Six of Sanchez's 11 hits this year in 41 […]

Dolphins Expected To Keep Reshad Jones

Miami Dolphins general manager Chris Grier said safety Reshad Jones will remain with the team and said that Jones also does not want to be traded. Jones isn't with the team during voluntary workouts this week, but it sounds like the Dolphins have him in their plans for 2019. The 31-year-old had 72 tackles and […]

Dolphins Not Discussing Extension With Kenyan Drake

The Miami Dolphins are not currently engaged in contract-extension talks with running back Kenyan Drake, according to a league source. The 25-year-old was underutilized by the last coaching staff, but he should be a part of the team's future as they rebuild. However, the talented back has a chance to be more effective under new […]