Ben Zobrist Leading Off

Chicago Cubs utility man Ben Zobrist is starting in right field and hitting leadoff on Wednesday against Braves starter Julio Teheran. Albert Almora Jr. is receiving the day off. Jason Heyward is in center field and batting ninth, while Daniel Descalso draws the start at second base and is hitting seventh in the order. Zobrist […]

Corey Dickerson Out With Sore Shoulder

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Corey Dickerson is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday with a sore right shoulder. J.B. Shuck will enter the lineup in left field and will hit seventh against Cardinals starting pitcher Miles Mikolas. Dickerson is listed as day-to-day for now and could return to the lineup in short order. The 29-year-old […]

No Timetable For Trea Turner

The Washington Nationals don't have a timetable for shortstop Trea Turner's return after he broke his right index finger on a hit by pitch on Tuesday night, according to general manager Mike Rizzo. The Nats will wait for Turner's bone to heal, and in the meantime Wilmer Difo is expected to hold down the shortstop […]

Jeff McNeil Banged Up, Out Wednesday

New York Mets infielder/outfielder Jeff McNeil has a "banged up" knee and is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday, but he's available to pinch hit. J.D. Davis will earn the start at the hot corner and will hit fifth in the lineup against Marlins starting pitcher Trevor Richards. The 25-year-old Davis has hit .196 […]

Xander Bogaerts Resting Wednesday

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora is giving shortstop Xander Bogaerts the day off on Wednesday after he took a foul ball off his left ankle/shin on Tuesday night. Infielder Brock Holt will start at shortstop, with Eduardo Nunez at second base against A's starting pitcher Marco Estrada. While Holt provides better defense with the […]

Steve Pearce Could Return Thursday

Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora said that first baseman Steve Pearce (calf) could return from the injured list on Thursday. He played seven innings on Tuesday in extended spring training and will join the team Wednesday night in Oakland. The 2018 World Series MVP will add some more thump to an already potent Boston […]

Brandon Nimmo Back In Leadoff Spot Wednesday

New York Mets outfielder Brandon Nimmo, who left the game early on Tuesday after being hit by a pitch in the hand in the seventh inning, is back in the leadoff spot and is starting in left field on Wednesday against Marlins starter Trevor Richards. Nimmo is off to a slow start this year with […]

Zach Eflin Relies Heavily On Slider

Philadelphia Phillies starting pitcher Zach Eflin, who tied a career high with nine strikeouts in five scoreless innings in the win over the Nationals on Tuesday, threw 32 sliders (37.6 percent). He has thrown his slider more in just two previous starts and had five swings and misses on the pitch. Eflin is a rising […]

Maikel Franco Hot To Start The Season

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Maikel Franco homered and was intentionally walked three times in the 8-2 win on Tuesday over the Nationals, joining Albert Pujols (twice), Miguel Cabrera and Paul Goldschmidt as the only players to homer once and intentionally walk three times since 2009. He has home runs in three of the first four […]

Raiders Sign Ryan Grant

The Oakland Raiders signed free-agent wide receiver Ryan Grant to an undisclosed deal on Wednesday. Grant, a former fifth-round pick, spent last year with the Colts and caught 35 passes for 334 yards and one touchdown in a career-high 10 starts. He played his first four seasons with the Redskins and has 119 catches for […]

Jordy Nelson Would Consider Return To Green Bay

Retired wide receiver Jordy Nelson, who spent 10 years with the Green Bay Packers, said he would consider coming out of retirement if the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers asked him to come back. Nelson had 550 catches for 7,848 yards and 69 touchdowns with Rodgers from 2008 to 2017. He also hd four 1,000-yard […]

Redskins Plan For Timeshare With Derrius Guice, Adrian Peterson

The Washington Redskins plan to go into the 2019 season using a timeshare in the backfield including running backs Derrius Guice and Adrian Peterson. Peterson isn't getting any younger, but he managed to top 1,000 yards rushing last year and remains in great shape. However, the team selected Guice in the second round of last […]

Dinelson Lamet Eyeing Midsummer Return

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Dinelson Lamet (elbow) threw an up-down bullpen session of around 50 pitches recently, according to manager Andy Green. Lamet is recovering from Tommy John surgery last April and is eyeing a midsummer return, although he doesn't have a firm timeline. The good news is the right-hander is throwing all of […]

Franmil Reyes Hitting The Ball Hard

San Diego Padres outfielder Franmil Reyes continues to hit the ball hard, but he hasn't had much to show for it early in the 2019 season with just one hit in 15 plate appearances. Among players with at least 10 batted balls, Reyes ranks fifth in the majors with a 97.1 mph average exit velocity. […]

Matt Olson Has Cast Removed

Oakland Athletics first baseman Matt Olson (hand) had his stitches and cast removed from his surgically repaired right hand on Monday, but he's still expected to require a gradual recovery, according to manager Bob Melvin. Olson is projected to resume baseball-related activities in five to seven weeks. The left-handed slugger batted .247/.335/.453 with a career-high […]

Jake Lamb To Play Third Base Again?

Arizona Diamondbacks corner infielder Jake Lamb took ground balls at third base on Monday for the first time since last season and told manager Torey Lovullo that he's comfortable playing there again. Lamb spent spring training transitioning to first base, but Christian Walker has been hot to start the year and has been playing over […]

Taijuan Walker Throwing Bullpens

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Taijuan Walker (elbow) threw a bullpen session at the team's spring training complex on Tuesday and will throw another on Friday. Walker, who is recovering from Tommy John surgery, is not expected back for a couple of months and isn't a fantasy option until then. The right-hander made just three starts […]

Niko Goodrum Dealing With Sore Calf

Detroit Tigers infielder Niko Goodrum didn't start on Tuesday against the Yankees due to a sore right calf, but the injury isn't serious and he even appeared later in the game and drew a walk off Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman and scored on a double. Goodrum is a utility man for the Tigers and has […]

Lance McCullers Jr. Throws On Flat Ground

Houston Astros starting pitcher Lance McCullers Jr. (elbow) threw on flat ground on Tuesday for the first time since he had Tommy John surgery on Nov. 6. Dr. Neal ElAttrache gave McCullers full clearance to start a throwing game the day before, and he made 25 to 30 tosses at around 45 feet. The right-hander […]

Michael A. Taylor To Start Rehab Assignment Thursday

Washington Nationals outfielder Michael A. Taylor (hip, knee) will have his rehab assignment bumped up a day from Friday to Thursday with Double-A Harrisburg. Barring any setbacks this weekend, Taylor should be able to rejoin the team sometime next week. He'll serve as a fourth outfielder behind Adam Eaton, Victor Robles and Juan Soto in […]

White Sox-Mariners Postponed Thursday

The game between the Chicago White Sox and Seattle Mariners will be postponed on Thursday due to inclement weather. White Sox starter Reynaldo Lopez will match up against Mariners left-hander Yusei Kikuchi for the team's home opener on Friday now. Lopez gave up four earned runs and six hits while striking out just two in […]

No Set Timetable For Francisco Lindor

Cleveland Indians shortstop Francisco Lindor (ankle) has no set timetable for a return, but he will do some light baseball activities in Cleveland for the next seven to 10 days before being re-evaluated. He was throwing on the field before the game on Wednesday with the club's head athletic trainer. It'll probably be at least […]

Browns Re-Sign Orson Charles

The Cleveland Browns re-signed tight end/fullback Orson Charles to an undisclosed one-year deal on Wednesday. Charles appeared in 13 games (two starts) for the Browns last year and had only three catches for 23 yards as mainly a blocker for running back Nick Chubb. The former fourth-rounder appeared in 49 games with the Bengals, Lions, […]

Jason Kipnis To Begin Rehab Assignment This Weekend

Cleveland Indians second baseman Jason Kipnis (calf) will join Triple-A Columbus for a rehab assignment this weekend. He could make his season debut next which, which is good news for an Indians middle infield that is also currently without shortstop Francisco Lindor (ankle). Brad Miller and Max Moroff have been holding down the fort at […]

Jeremy Jeffress To Start Rehab Assignment Friday

Milwaukee Brewers manager Craig Counsell said he saw "all good signs" from relief pitcher Jeremy Jeffress' (shoulder) outing in extended spring training on Tuesday. The reliever will pitch on Friday with Triple-A San Antonio. Jeffress had a fine 1.29 ERA, 0.99 WHIP, 10.4 K/9 and 15 saves in 73 outings for the Brew Crew last […]

Tim Anderson Expected To Play On Thursday

Chicago White Sox manager Rick Renteria said he expects shortstop Tim Anderson to play in the home opener on Thursday. Chicago is set to face Mariners left-hander Yusei Kikuchi on Thursday afternoon. The 25-year-old Anderson left the team on paternity leave Monday and is hitting .333 (4-for-12) with a run scored, RBI and stolen base […]

Byron Buxton Not In Lineup

Minnesota Twins outfielder Byron Buxton (back, ribs) is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday after crashing into the outfield wall on Tuesday night. He's dealing with a ribs contusion and a sore back, but it's not considered serious. Jake Cave is in right field and is hitting sixth, while Max Kepler shifts over to […]

Indians Give Terry Francona Two-Year Extension

The Cleveland Indians signed manager Terry Francona to a two-year contract extension through the 2022 season on Wednesday. His current deal was set to expire after the 2020 season. The soon-to-be 60-year-old has led the Tribe to three straight American League Central titles and the World Series in 2016. The club has made the playoffs […]

Nationals Not Ready To Bring Up Carter Kieboom

Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said the team isn't ready to call up shortstop prospect Carter Kieboom just yet, and they want him to get repetitions and at-bats at Triple-A Fresno to begin the season. Kieboom is the team's No. 2 prospect and No. 25 overall, per MLB Pipeline. He's only 21 years old […]

Daniel Robertson Back In Lineup Wednesday

Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Daniel Robertson (illness) is back in the starting lineup on Wednesday, batting sixth and starting at third base against Rockies starting pitcher German Marquez. Robertson was removed from the last game with an illness, but it obviously proved to be a minor issue. The 25-year-old has only two hits in […]