Javier Assad Activated And Starting On Saturday

The Chicago Cubs activated right-hander Javier Assad (forearm) from the 15-day injured list on Saturday, and he will start Game 2 of the team's doubleheader against the division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. Assad initially landed on the IL on June 27 with a right-forearm strain, but he's ready to return to Chicago's rotation right before next […]

Joey Bart Resting On Saturday

Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart will take the day off on Saturday in the second game of the series against the hosting Chicago White Sox. Veteran Yasmani Grandal will do the catching against his old team and will bat ninth against White Sox right-hander Chris Flexen. With former first-rounder Henry Davis missing time with a […]

Heston Kjerstad Leaves After Being Hit In The Head

Baltimore Orioles rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad (head) left Friday's series opener against the division-rival New York Yankees after being hit in the head by a pitch from Yankees closer Clay Holmes with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. Kjerstad was checked by head athletic trainer Brian Ebel before coming out of the […]

Jose Miranda Scratched With Back Stiffness

The Minnesota Twins scratched third baseman Jose Miranda (back) from Friday's series opener against the hosting San Francisco Giants with lower-back stiffness. Rookie infielder Brooks Lee was originally slated to make his first career big-league start at second base, but the injury to Miranda caused him to be moved to third base while hitting seventh. […]

Salvador Perez Leaves Early Due To Cramping

Kansas City Royals catcher Salvador Perez left Friday's contest early at Fenway Park against the Boston Red Sox due to cramping in the eighth inning. In the Royals' 6-1 win, Perez went 1-for-3 with a single and two RBI before hitting the showers early. He was replaced by catcher Freddy Fermin. With just two more […]

Brooks Lee Playing Second Base On Friday

Minnesota Twins rookie infielder Brooks Lee will get the start at the keystone and will bat eighth for the Twins in Friday's series opener in San Francisco against the Giants and left-hander Kyle Harrison. It will be the first time that Lee has started at second base in his ninth big-league game. All eight of […]

Xander Bogaerts Activated And Starting Against Braves

San Diego Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) was activated from the 10-day injured list on Friday and will start at second base and bat fifth behind Manny Machado in the series opener against the visiting Atlanta Braves and rookie right-hander Spencer Schwellenbach. It will be Bogaerts' first game back in the big leagues since […]

Daulton Varsho Back In The Lineup On Friday

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Daulton Varsho (knee) is back in left field and is batting fifth on Friday against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks and right-hander Ryne Nelson in the series opener. Varsho will return against his former team after missing Thursday's game after he was pulled early from Wednesday's contest against the San Francisco Giants […]

Bo Bichette Remains Out Against Diamondbacks

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (calf) remains out of the starting lineup for a series opener against the hosting Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday. Rookie Leo Jimenez will take over at shortstop again and bat ninth for Toronto against Diamondbacks right-hander Ryne Nelson. Bichette is officially dealing with a fascia strain in his right calf […]

Lourdes Gurriel Jr. Out Again On Friday

Arizona Diamondbacks outfielder Lourdes Gurriel Jr. (undisclosed) will sit out a second straight game due to undisclosed soreness in the series opener on Friday versus the visiting Toronto Blue Jays. Gurriel's soreness doesn't sound like anything serious, so he should be back in Arizona's lineup for the final two games of the first half of […]

Jo Adell Back From His Illness

Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jo Adell (hamstring) is back in right field and is hitting ninth for the Halos on Friday against the visiting division-rival Seattle Mariners and right-hander Bryan Woo, who is making his first start off the 15-day injured list. Adell is clearly feeling better after missing the last two games with an […]

Bryan Woo Reinstated And Starting On Friday

The Seattle Mariners reinstated right-hander Bryan Woo (hamstring) from the 15-day injured list on Friday and optioned right-hander Eduard Bazardo to Triple-A Tacoma in a corresponding move. Woo will make the start on Friday versus the division-rival Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim and is a recommended fantasy play despite this being his first start coming […]

Nolan Jones Scratched On Friday

Colorado Rockies outfielder Nolan Jones has been scratched from the team's starting lineup on Friday against the hosting New York Mets for undisclosed reasons. We'll provide an update on why Jones was scratched when we know more. With the 26-year-old left-handed-hitting outfielder now out, Sam Hillard will play left field and bat ninth for the […]

Oneil Cruz Not Playing On Friday

Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Oneil Cruz is out of the team's starting lineup on Friday for the series opener against the hosting Chicago White Sox. Cruz returned to Thursday's lineup after missing the previous two contests with hamstring soreness, but he'll sit out again to begin a new series in Chicago on Friday. It remains to […]

Marco Gonzales Activated And Starting On Friday

The Pittsburgh Pirates activated left-hander Marco Gonzales (forearm) from the 60-day injured list on Friday and designated right-hander Brent Honeywell for assignment in a corresponding move to make room for Gonzales on the active roster. Gonzales will immediately return to the starting rotation and take the hill in an excellent matchup on the road against […]

David Bednar Reinstated From The Injured List

The Pittsburgh Pirates reinstated closer David Bednar (oblique) from the 15-day injured list on Friday and optioned right-hander Ryder Ryan to Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move to make room for Bednar on the active roster. Bednar will return to the Pirates' bullpen after missing around three weeks with an oblique strain. The 29-year-old could […]

David Fry Grabs Pine On Friday

Cleveland Guardians catcher/outfielder David Fry will start on the bench on Friday against the hosting Tampa Bay Rays. Fry came out of nowhere in 2024 and began the year like gangbusters at the plate, but regression is rearing its ugly head lately. The 28-year-old is hitless in his last three games and has gone 3-for-27 […]

Bryson Stott Resting Against A Southpaw

Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Bryson Stott will get the day off on Friday against the visiting Oakland Athletics with left-hander Hogan Harris on the bump. Utility infielder Edmundo Sosa will make the start at second base and will bat sixth for the Phillies against Harris. Stott has hit .244 against both lefties and righties in […]

Yordan Alvarez Back In Astros Lineup

Houston Astros outfielder/designated hitter Yordan Alvarez (hip) is serving as the DH and is batting third for the Astros on Friday against the visiting division-rival Texas Rangers and left-hander Andrew Heaney. Knee and hip injuries have caused Alvarez to miss several games of late, but he's back for a big weekend series against Texas and […]

Charlie Blackmon Returns On Friday

Colorado Rockies outfielder/designated hitter Charlie Blackmon (hamstring) has returned to the starting lineup for Friday's series opener versus the hosting New York Mets and left-hander Sean Manaea, serving as the DH and hitting leadoff. Blackmon tweaked his right hamstring while making a diving catch on Monday and missed the last three games as a result. […]

DJ LeMahieu Returns To Yankees Lineup

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu (neck, pinkie) is back at third base and is batting leadoff for the Bronx Bombers for Friday's series opener against the division-rival Baltimore Orioles at Camden Yards against rookie left-hander Cade Povich. LeMahieu suffered injuries to both his neck and pinkie finger in Wednesday's contest against the Tampa Bay […]

Colt Keith, Wenceel Perez Out Against Dodgers

Detroit Tigers infielders Colt Keith and Wenceel Perez are not in the team's starting lineup for Friday's series opener against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers. Andy Ibanez is starting at second base and will bat leadoff for Detroit, with Ryan Vilade playing right field and batting ninth against Dodgers left-hander James Paxton. Vilade was recalled […]

JJ Bleday Sitting Out Against Phillies

Oakland Athletics outfielder JJ Bleday will start Friday's game against the hosting Philadelphia Phillies on the bench with a left-hander on the mound. With Bleday getting a breather, Daz Cameron will start in center field for the A's and will bat leadoff against tough Phillies left-hander Ranger Suarez. Bleday is hitting just .203 (12-for-59) on […]

Cooper Criswell Recalled To Start On Friday

The Boston Red Sox recalled right-hander Cooper Criswell from Triple-A Worcester in order for him to make the start in Friday's series opener against the visiting Kansas City Royals. In a corresponding move, the team optioned pitcher Trey Wingenter to the minors. Criswell will return to the big leagues after spending most of the last […]

Masataka Yoshida Heads To The Bench Friday

Boston Red Sox outfielder/designated hitter Masataka Yoshida will retreat to the bench on Friday for the series opener against the visiting Kansas City Royals and left-handed starter Cole Ragans. Tyler O'Neill will serve as the DH and bat third for the BoSox, with veteran Rob Refsnyder starting in right field and batting leadoff. Despite hitting […]

Phillies Release Whit Merrifield

The Philadelphia Phillies announced on Friday that they released infielder/outfielder Whit Merrifield and called up outfielder Weston Wilson from the minors to replace him on the active roster. Wilson is actually starting in left field and batting seventh on Friday against the Oakland Athletics with left-hander Hogan Harris on the mound. Merrifield, a three-time All-Star, […]

Brandon Marsh, Johan Rojas Resting On Friday

With a left-hander on the mound for the visiting Oakland Athletics in the series opener on Friday, Philadelphia Phillies outfielders Brandon Marsh and Johan Rojas will start on the bench. Weston Wilson, who was recalled from the minors, will start in left field and bat seventh, while Cristian Pache will draw into the lineup in […]

Gavin Lux Sitting Against A Lefty

Los Angeles Dodgers second baseman Gavin Lux is getting the day off on Friday against the hosting Detroit Tigers with a left-hander on the mound. With Lux on the bench, Chris Taylor will get the start at the keystone and will hit seventh against Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal. Lux just hasn't been able to figure […]

Van Jefferson In Pole Position For WR2 Job

After signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers in free agency this offseason, he is in pole position to start the 2024 season as the No. 2 wideout behind George Pickens. Jefferson showed flashes of being able to handle that role in 2021 with 50 catches and 802 yards with the Los Angeles Rams, but he hasn't […]

Justin Fields Playing For 2025 And Beyond

The Athletic's Mark Kaboly doesn't think that Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields is going to beat out Russell Wilson or replace him in 2024 unless Wilson implodes, which is difficult to imagine happening. Kaboly also thinks Fields is playing /practicing for 2025 and down the road. He still has to work on his fundamentals, but […]