Christian Encarnacion-Strand Hitting Seventh In MLB Debut

Cincinnati Reds infield prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand is serving as the designated hitter and is batting seventh in the lineup on Monday in his major-league debut against the San Francisco Giants and right-hander Logan Webb. It was only a matter of time before Encarnacion-Strand made his big-league debut for the Reds in 2023 after he hit […]

Elly De La Cruz Hitting Out Of Leadoff Spot Monday

Cincinnati Reds rookie infielder Elly De La Cruz is making the start at third base and is batting leadoff for the Reds on Monday against the San Francisco Giants in the series opener. The exciting 21-year-old Dominican is making everything look really easy so far in his first 33 games in the big leagues, and […]

Jason Heyward Returns From Neck Injury

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Jason Heyward (neck) has returned to the lineup on Monday against the Baltimore Orioles and right-handed rookie Grayson Rodriguez. Heyward will get the start in right field and will hit seventh in the lineup. He was forced to leave Sunday's game early against the New York Mets with a stinger. Meanwhile, […]

Aaron Hicks Returns On Monday

Baltimore Orioles outfielder Aaron Hicks (back) is back in the team's starting lineup on Monday against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Emmet Sheehan. Hicks is starting in center field with Cedric Mullins (quadriceps) still out and is hitting sixth in the batting order. Hicks sat out on Sunday due to lower-back soreness, but […]

Ha-Seong Kim Goes Deep In Extra-Inning Loss

San Diego Padres infielder Ha-Seong Kim did his best to help the team against the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday on the road, but it wasn't enough in a 7-6 loss in 12 innings. Kim finished the day going 2-for-6 with a home run, RBI, two runs scored and two strikeouts from the leadoff spot. The […]

Mike Moustakas Hits Another Homer Against Astros

Los Angeles Angels infielder Mike Moustakas stayed hot at the plate on Sunday night in a 9-8 loss to the division-rival Houston Astros by going 1-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk. It was the second game in a row that Moustakas left the yard for the Angels, and he's gone 12-for-50 (.240) […]

Kevin Newman Goes On 10-Day Injured List

The Cincinnati Reds placed infielder Kevin Newman (illness) on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 14) with gastritis and selected the contract of infield prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand from Triple-A Louisville in a corresponding move. Newman should be ready to return to the Reds when he's eligible on July 24. The 29-year-old hasn't had a […]

Bailey Ober Hopes To Keep Excelling In Second Half

Minnesota Twins right-hander Bailey Ober is currently in the midst of a career year for the Twins in just his third major-league season. Through 14 starts in the first half of the season, he's gone 5-4 with a career-best 2.61 ERA (3.39 FIP), 0.97 WHIP, 18 walks and 79 strikeouts in 82 2/3 innings pitched. […]

Chas McCormick Homers Twice In Win

Houston Astros outfielder Chas McCormick brought the thunder with the bat in Sunday night's 9-8 win over the Los Angeles Angels, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, three RBI, two runs scored and a strikeout. It was quite the start for McCormick to kick off the second half of the season, as he had three […]

Shane McClanahan Officially Activated From Injured List

The Tampa Bay Rays officially activated left-hander Shane McClanahan (back) from the 15-day injured list, and he will make the start on Monday as the team faces the Texas Rangers. When healthy, McClanahan is a no-doubt fantasy ace, but he's going to be a pretty risky DFS choice in his first start back on Monday […]

Rays Designate Yonny Chirinos For Assignment

The Tampa Bay Rays designated right-hander Yonny Chirinos for assignment on Monday. Chirinos gets the boot off the team's 40-man roster to begin the week after going 4-4 with a 4.02 ERA (5.52 FIP), 1.24 WHIP, 20 walks and 31 strikeouts in 62 2/3 innings pitched over 15 appearances (four starts) for the Rays. In […]

Rays Reinstate Yandy Diaz From Paternity List

The Tampa Bay Rays reinstated infielder Yandy Diaz from the paternity list on Monday and optioned infielder Jonathan Aranda to Triple-A Durham in a corresponding move. Diaz, who homered last Tuesday in his first All-Star game, will be making his first start of the second half of the season on Monday when the team starts […]

Pirates Call Up Liover Peguero

The Pittsburgh Pirates are calling up infield prospect Liover Peguero from Triple-A Indianapolis on Monday and are optioning outfielder Josh Palacios to Indianapolis in a corresponding move. The 22-year-old Peguero is Pittsburgh's No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, and he gets the call to the Show after hitting a combined .260/.333/.462 with 13 home runs, […]

Zach Jackson Throws Bullpen Session

Oakland Athletics right-handed reliever Zach Jackson (elbow), who was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 21 with a right flexor-tendon strain, felt good after throwing a bullpen session on Saturday. The next step will be for Jackson to throw to live hitters. The 28-year-old has been on the shelf since May 16, so […]

Dany Jimenez Throws Live Batting Practice Session

Oakland Athletics relief pitcher Dany Jimenez (shoulder) felt good after throwing 15 pitches during a live batting practice session over the weekend at the Coliseum. Jimenez was moved from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list on April 19 with a right-shoulder strain. Although he's making progress, there remains no timetable for his […]

Kevin Smith Begins Swing Progression

Oakland Athletics infielder Kevin Smith, who was placed on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to June 16) with a strained back, has been doing well and was set to begin a swing progression over the weekend, according to manager Mark Kotsay. It's been slow progress for the 27-year-old, but it's a good sign that he's […]

Carlos Perez To Be Re-Evaluated This Week

Oakland Athletics catcher Carlos Perez (thumb), who was placed on the 10-day injured list with a fractured left thumb (retroactive to July 2), will have his thumb re-evaluated by a doctor sometime this week. If he's cleared, Perez will then begin strengthening activities. The 32-year-old has been out of action since the Fourth of July, […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Makes Pinch-Hit Appearance Sunday

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (ankle) made an appearance as a pinch-hitter in the eighth inning of the team's 7-6 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies in 12 innings on Sunday. Tatis finished the contest 1-for-2 with two RBI and finished the game in right field, so the ankle injury he suffered on Saturday […]

Genesis Cabrera Designated For Assignment

The St. Louis Cardinals designated left-handed reliever Genesis Cabrera for assignment on Monday morning. Cabrera had been with the team since 2019, and it's a surprising move given his presumed trade interest, although he can still be traded within seven days of being designated for assignment. The 26-year-old Dominican southpaw gets the boot off the […]

Eloy Jimenez Could Be Out 4-5 Days

Chicago White Sox outfielder Eloy Jimenez (groin) will be further evaluated after injuring his groin on Sunday against the Atlanta Braves, and manager Pedro Grifol said that he could be out four to five days. The White Sox have an off day on Monday before beginning a series against the New York Mets on Tuesday, […]

Patriots Likely To Feature A Lot Of Two-Tight End Sets

The New England Patriots' new-look offense under offensive coordinator Bill O'Brien will likely feature a heavy dosage of two-tight end sets that will resemble what we saw in O'Brien's first stint with the team, writes Patriots.com's Evan Lazar. That means a lot of Hunter Henry and new tight end Mike Gesicki. In spring workouts, Gesicki's […]

Dak Prescott Plans On Reducing Interception Total

Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott had 15 interceptions thrown last year, which was tied for the NFL lead in just 12 games played. Entering his eighth year in the league, Prescott said that he is going to reduce his number of turnovers in 2023. "I won't have 10 interceptions this year," Prescott said. "I know […]

Sione Takitaki Ready For Comeback After ACL Injury

Cleveland Browns fifth-year linebacker Sione Takitaki (knee) is ready to make a comeback in 2023 following a season-ending knee injury he suffered in 2022. "I am excited," Takitaki said to Jason Gibbs on an episode of Best Podcast Available. "The rehab process has been going well. I like where I am at. Just been rehabbing […]

Rams Sign Nikola Kalinic

The Los Angeles Rams signed free-agent tight end Nikola Kalinic to an undisclosed deal over the weekend. Kalinic spent the 2022 campaign with the Indianapolis Colts, where he played some special teams in parts of seven games (two starts). He returned one kickoff for 15 yards and mostly bounced from the active roster to the […]

Harold Landry Gearing Up For His Return

Tennessee Titans linebacker Harold Landry (knee) didn't take part in organized team activities or minicamp this offseason after he missed all of 2022 due to a torn ACL he suffered last preseason, but he's made good use of his time, according to his coaches. "He looks really good," head coach Mike Vrabel said. The Titans […]

Differing Opinions On Mac Jones Among Patriots Brass?

According to The Boston Globe's Ben Volin, New England Patriots president Jonathan Kraft is a staunch supporter of quarterback Mac Jones, and the Kraft family is fully invested in Jones succeeding after a disappointing sophomore season in 2022. However, head coach Bill Belichick doesn't share the same sentiments regarding the young signal-caller. While it was […]

Raiders, Josh Jacobs Not Expected To Agree On Long-Term Deal

It's looking more and more likely that the Las Vegas Raiders and running back Josh Jacobs won't come to terms on a long-term contract extension by Monday's deadline to sign franchise-tagged players to extensions. Jacobs has yet to sign the $10.09 million franchise tender and has already sent word that he won't show up for […]

Jaguars, Evan Engram Agree On Three-Year Extension

The Jacksonville Jaguars and franchise-tagged tight end Evan Engram agreed to a three-year, $42.5 million contract extension on Sunday, according to his agent, Mike McCartney. The Jaguars lock Engram up for the long term with head coach Doug Pederson and quarterback Trevor Lawrence after he had a career-high 73 catches for 766 yards and four […]

Aaron Hicks Scratched From Sunday's Lineup

Baltimore Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said that outfielder Aaron Hicks (back) was scratched from Sunday's lineup against the Miami Marlins as a precaution with lower-back soreness. Hicks should be considered day-to-day for now, but it remains to be seen if he'll be able to return to action for Monday's series opener against the visiting Los […]

Fernando Tatis Jr. Feeling Better, Could Be Available Off The Bench

San Diego Padres manager Bob Melvin said that outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (ankle) is feeling better than expected on Sunday and could be available off the bench in the series finale against the Philadelphia Phillies. However, the Padres will likely err on the side of caution and keep Tatis out in rainy weather in Philadelphia. […]