Justin Verlander Ruled Out Until After All-Star Break

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada acknowledged on Thursday that right-hander Justin Verlander (neck) will not return to the team until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Neck soreness landed Verlander on the 15-day injured list in mid-June, and he won't return to the team's starting rotation until the second half of the season. The 41-year-old […]

Kyle Tucker Won't Return Before All-Star Break

Houston Astros manager Joe Espada acknowledged on Thursday that outfielder Kyle Tucker (shin) will not return to the team before the All-Star break in mid-July. Tucker fouled a ball off his leg in early June and hasn't been able to return since. The 27-year-old has started swinging a bat, though, so hopefully he'll be able […]

Jackson Merrill Bumped Up To Three-Spot

San Diego Padres rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill has been moved up to third in the batting order for the Fourth of July on Thursday against the hosting Texas Rangers and veteran right-hander Max Scherzer. Merrill is having a breakout campaign in his first year in the big leagues for the Friars in 2024 and […]

Marcus Semien Getting Rare Day Off

Texas Rangers second baseman Marcus Semien will start the Fourth of July game on Thursday against the visiting San Diego Padres on the bench. This will be Semien's second day off of the season as the Rangers give him a mental day to rest. The 33-year-old All-Star has been in a funk at the plate […]

David Hamilton Back In Action On Thursday

Boston Red Sox middle infielder David Hamilton is starting at second base and is batting in the two-hole for the Red Sox on Thursday against the hosting Miami Marlins and right-hander Kyle Tyler. Hamilton was on the bench for the third time in the last four games for the BoSox on Wednesday, so fantasy managers […]

Andrew Vaughn Getting A Breather On Thursday

Chicago White Sox first baseman Andrew Vaughn isn't in the team's starting lineup on Thursday against the division-rival Cleveland Guardians. Gavin Sheets will get the nod at first base and will bat cleanup for the Pale Hose versus Guardians right-hander Ben Lively. Vaughn has been a below-average hitter for fantasy managers in his fourth year […]

Bo Bichette Scratched In Series Finale

Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Bo Bichette (forearm) has been scratched from Thursday's lineup against the visiting Houston Astros. Rookie Leo Jimenez will make the start at shortstop in Bichette's place and bat eighth against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. Rookie Spencer Horwitz will draw into the lineup at second base and bat fifth. Bichette is dealing […]

Danny Jansen Reinstated And Starting On Thursday

The Toronto Blue Jays reinstated catcher Danny Jansen from the paternity list on Thursday and optioned catcher Brian Serven to Triple-a Buffalo in a corresponding move. Jansen is serving as the designated hitter and is batting in the two-hole for the Jays on Thursday against the visiting Houston Astros and left-hander Framber Valdez. The 29-year-old […]

DJ LeMahieu Sitting On Thursday

New York Yankees infielder DJ LeMahieu will get a breather on Fourth of July on Thursday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds. Oswaldo Cabrera will get the start at the hot corner and will hit eighth in the order against Reds right-hander Frankie Montas. LeMahieu will get the day off after starting in each of the […]

Anthony Volpe Drops To Sixth In Batting Order

New York Yankees shortstop Anthony Volpe is being dropped to sixth in the batting order on Fourth of July on Thursday against the visiting Cincinnati Reds and right-hander Frankie Montas. First baseman Ben Rice jumps up into the leadoff spot for the matinee affair. This will be the first time since April 9 that Volpe […]

Pirates Place Jared Jones On 15-Day Injured List

The Pittsburgh Pirates placed rookie right-hander Jared Jones (lat) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a right-lat strain and recalled outfielder Joshua Palacios from Triple-A Indianapolis in a corresponding move. Jones was removed from his start a bit early on Wednesday against the St. Louis Cardinals as a precaution. The 22-year-old said he […]

Abraham Toro Expected To Be Out Through All-Star Break

Oakland Athletics third baseman Abraham Toro (hamstring) is expected to be out at least through the All-Star break in mid-July, but the A's are hopeful that he could begin running the bases at some point this week. Toro is rehabbing a Grade 1 hamstring strain and will need to begin running the bases and eventually […]

Cole Irvin Moving To The Bullpen

Baltimore Orioles left-hander Cole Irvin will move to the bullpen for the time being, according to manager Brandon Hyde. Right-hander Albert Suarez will make the start of the Orioles on Friday for the series opener in Oakland against the Athletics in an excellent matchup. Irvin gets the boot to the bullpen after allowing a total […]

Jared Jones Pulled Early On Wednesday With Lat Strain

Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton cited a right-lat strain in the decision to limit rookie right-hander Jared Jones to five innings in his start on Wednesday versus the visiting division-rival St. Louis Cardinals. Jones said it would have been stupid to keep going but he could have, if necessary. He's not concerned about the injury, […]

Antonio Senzatela Mixing In Offspeed Pitches

Colorado Rockies right-hander Antonio Senzatela (elbow) threw a bullpen session on Tuesday and started mixing in more of his pitches as part of his progression in his rehab from Tommy John surgery. "It was fastball, changeup, so that's another step. The next step after this is probably another bullpen or two throwing all his pitches […]

Zac Veen Continues His Rehab Assignment

Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Zac Veen (back) continued his rehab assignment at High-A Spokane on Tuesday, going 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a walk after going 1-for-3 with a pair of walks in his previous game. Veen, the team's No. 6 prospect and the No. 90 prospect in all of baseball per MLB Pipeline, […]

Jordan Beck To Be Evaluated This Week

Colorado Rockies outfield prospect Jordan Beck (hand) was scheduled to return to Denver by Wednesday to be seen by team personnel. Beck has been at the team's complex in Arizona after having surgery on May 29 to insert a plate in his hand to aid in his healing after he suffered a broken left hand […]

German Marquez Expected To Make Two More Rehab Starts

Colorado Rockies manager Bud Black expects right-hander German Marquez (elbow) to make two more minor-league rehab starts with Double-A Hartford as he continues his recovery from Tommy John surgery. Marquez gave up four earned runs in just two-thirds of an inning while throwing 33 pitches in his last rehab start on Friday for Triple-A Albuquerque. […]

Yency Almonte Shut Down

Chicago Cubs right-hander Yency Almonte (shoulder) didn't receive great news from the second opinion on his right-shoulder strain and will stop his throwing program, rest and then make a decision on whether to resume his rehab or consider a surgical option, according to manager Craig Counsell. Surgery would most likely put Almonte out for the […]

Josh Jung Won't Return Until After All-Star Break

Texas Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said that the team is shutting down third baseman Josh Jung (wrist) until next week to rest his surgically repaired wrist. If all goes well, Jung could start a minor-league rehab assignment next week, but he won't return until after the All-Star break. This really isn't a big surprise after […]

No Clear Return Plan For Walker Buehler

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler's hip no longer appears to be bothering him, but there's no clear plan for his return from the 15-day injured list. Manager Dave Roberts said Buehler is throwing and has been working "offsite," both in Arizona and at a private facility in Florida, according to a person with knowledge […]

Yoshinobu Yamamoto Currently "Pain-Free"

Los Angeles Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (shoulder) is currently "pain-free," according to manager Dave Roberts. However, Yamamoto hasn't started throwing yet, and Roberts didn't know when that would begin. The Dodgers will surely handle him delicately as he deals with a strained rotator cuff after they signed him to a $325 million deal in the […]

Clayton Kershaw To Throw A Bullpen On Wednesday

Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw (shoulder) is throwing a bullpen session on Wednesday, according to manager Dave Roberts. This time 10 days ago, Kershaw threw a bullpen and reported discomfort in his surgically repaired left shoulder. But after an MRI exam, "some shots" have cleared things up for Kershaw to return to throwing. "I […]

Mookie Betts Could Play Second Base When He Returns

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he'd consider moving shortstop Mookie Betts (wrist) to second base when he comes off the injured list when he was asked if he would consider leaving Miguel Rojas at shortstop. "I don't think anyone can debate the level of shortstop play from Miguel Rojas," Roberts said. Rojas has […]

Mitch Garver Remains Absent On Wednesday

Seattle Mariners catcher Mitch Garver (wrist) remains out of the team's starting lineup on Wednesday versus the visiting Baltimore Orioles. Cal Raleigh is doing the catching and is batting third, while Jorge Polanco serves as the designated hitter and bats sixth against Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer, who will be making his first start since coming […]

Ezequiel Tovar Getting A Day Off

Colorado Rockies shortstop Ezequiel Tovar will get the day off on Wednesday against the visiting Milwaukee Brewers at Coors Field. It's a rare day of rest for Tovar, as this is just his third game off of the 2024 season. The 22-year-old shortstop is having a solid year for himself in his second full season […]

Matt Vierling Returns On Wednesday

Detroit Tigers outfielder/infielder Matt Vierling (foot) is back in the starting lineup on Wednesday against the hosting Minnesota Twins, playing third base and batting leadoff against Twins rookie right-hander David Festa, who will be making just his second major-league start. Giovanny Urshela will move across the diamond to first base and will bat in the […]

Corey Seager Added To Wednesday's Lineup

After initially not being included in Wednesday's starting lineup against the visiting San Diego Padres, shortstop Corey Seager (wrist) has been added and will bat second against Padres right-handed rookie Adam Mazur. Seager was hit by a pitch last Saturday on the left wrist against the Baltimore Orioles and ended up missing the last two […]

DJ Moore A Candidate For An Extension

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore's current contract runs through the 2025 season, so nothing is urgent at this time, but he's currently 17th among wideouts in terms of average salary and is coming off a career year in his first year in Chicago in which he caught 96 passes on 136 targets for a […]

Diontae Johnson Could Cash In Next Offseason

The Carolina Panthers made no move to extend wide receiver Diontae Johnson after trading for the former Pittsburgh Steelers wideout in March, as they prefer to see whether he emerges as the explosive, coverage-separating pass-catcher that quarterback Bryce Young and the offense lacked in 2023. If Johnson proves he's a difference-maker in his first year […]