Nico Hoerner Batting Leadoff Against Orioles

Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner is starting at the keystone and is hitting leadoff for the Cubbies on Friday against Baltimore Orioles left-hander Cole Irvin. Hoerner will get a chance at the top of Chicago's batting order after hitting in the two-hole recently. Mike Tauchman will take a seat with a left-hander on the […]

Gunnar Henderson Back In Leadoff Spot Friday

Baltimore Orioles infielder Gunnar Henderson is starting at third base and is back in the leadoff spot on Friday to take on the Chicago Cubs and right-hander Kyle Hendricks. Henderson was in the cleanup spot on Thursday, but he'll be back in the top spot on Friday. The 21-year-old started off slowly at the plate, […]

Chris Olave Misses Practice With Injury

New Orleans Saints wide receiver Chris Olave (Achilles) didn't take part in the team's mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday due to a minor Achilles injury. The team isn't very concerned and likely just held Olave out as a precaution. The 22-year-old should be fully ready for the start of training camp at the end of […]

Khalil Shakir Standing Out This Offseason

Buffalo Bills wide receiver Khalil Shakir has been impressive during spring practices and could be pushing for a regular role in three-wide sets this year in Buffalo's offense. Last year's fifth-round selection out of Boise State barely factored in on offense in 2022, catching 10 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown in 14 games […]

Darnell Washington Draws Praise From Pat Freiermuth

Pittsburgh Steelers rookie tight end Darnell Washington was drawing a lot of buzz again during mandatory minicamp practice on Thursday. Washington said he'd give himself a B- or a C+, but teammate Pat Freiermuth was more impressed. "Darnell's really good, man. He's putting it all together. The past two days he's looked really good." The […]

Drew Sample Able To Practice

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Drew Sample (knee), who missed all but one game last year with a torn MCL and PCL, wasn't supposed to be cleared until training camp. However, he was able to get into the team's last three practices, chalking it up to the team's light schedule that allowed him to get into […]

Irv Smith Jr. Has Been Impressive This Offseason

Cincinnati Bengals tight end Irv Smith Jr. has looked impressive this offseason, and he'll be the team's third different starter in three years at the tight end position in 2023. "Forget about the talent. He's a talented guy. We knew that's what we've seen on tape so that didn't surprise me in anyway," head coach […]

Cam Akers To Be Big Part Of Offense

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay said that running back Cam Akers is "going to be a huge part of what we're doing moving forward." Akers had a promising rookie season with 748 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns, but he tore his Achilles before training camp in 2021 and missed almost the entire […]

Matthew Stafford Throws At Minicamp

Los Angeles Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford (neck) wrapped up the team's mandatory minicamp on Wednesday after two days of throwing, something he wasn't able to do last year because of a right-elbow injury that required offseason surgery. Head coach Sean McVay described the difference of having Stafford available and participating as "night and day." Stafford […]

Sean McVay Impressed With Stetson Bennett

Los Angeles Rams head coach Sean McVay expressed how "pleased" he's been with rookie quarterback Stetson Bennett during mandatory minicamp this week. The Rams took the former Georgia Bulldog in the fourth round (128th overall) in this year's NFL draft. "The one thing that stands out is when the ball is in Stetson's hands, the […]

Commanders Monitoring Kareem Hunt

The Washington Commanders have quietly been making preliminary inquiries behind the scenes on free-agent running back Kareem Hunt, according to a league source. It remains to be seen if this leads to an opportunity for Hunt with Washington, and it's intriguing from a fantasy perspective given Hunt's ties to new offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy from […]

Saints Sign Center Billy Price

The New Orleans Saints signed free-agent center Billy Price to an undisclosed deal on Thursday. Price will head to the Big Easy after making 11 starts in 2022 with the Arizona Cardinals. The former first-round pick of the Cincinnati Bengals in 2018 out of Ohio State will provide depth at the pivot behind Erik McCoy, […]

Taysom Hill Hopes To Be Used More As Pass-Catcher

New Orleans Saints tight end Taysom Hill said his hope and expectation is that he will see more action as a pass-catcher this year when he was asked how his role could expand in 2023. The converted quarterback was used mostly out of the backfield on designed runs last year, seeing a career-high 96 rushing […]

DeAndre Hopkins Meets With Patriots, In No Rush To Sign

Free-agent wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins visited with the New England Patriots on Thursday, and barring an unexpected turn, both sides are expected to take some time to assess their next steps, according to a source familiar with the visit. The 31-year-old is in no rush to sign and has considered waiting until closer to training […]

Joey Votto Goes Deep In Rehab Game

Cincinnati Reds first baseman Joey Votto (biceps, shoulder) had his best minor-league rehab performance on Thursday for Triple-A Louisville, going 2-for-2 with a solo home run, two runs scored and two walks. The veteran left-handed slugger has now cleared the fences twice on his rehab assignment in his last five games, and he's getting closer […]

Mike Clevinger Avoids Structural Damage, IL Stint Still Likely

Chicago White Sox starting pitcher Mike Clevinger (biceps) said he doesn't have structural damage in his shoulder or elbow, but he's dealing with fluid in his biceps after being forced from his start early on Wednesday night against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Clevinger called it the "best news possible." However, an injured-list stint seems likely. […]

Tarik Skubal Strikes Out Five In Latest Rehab Start

Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal (elbow) looked sharp in his latest minor-league rehab start for Triple-A Toledo on Thursday, tossing three scoreless innings on one hit while walking none and striking out five. This was his first rehab start with Toledo after allowing an unearned run on three hits while walking none and fanning seven […]

Max Fried Throwing Off A Mound

Atlanta Braves left-hander Max Fried (forearm) has resumed throwing off a mound, but he hasn't faced hitters yet. The Braves are being cautious with his rehab, and he won't be back with the team until after the All-Star break in mid-July. Fried will eventually advance to full bullpen sessions, will resume facing hitters and will […]

Kyle Wright Cleared For Throwing Program

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Kyle Wright (shoulder) has been cleared to begin a throwing program, but there remains no timetable for his return. Wright has been out since early May due to a right-shoulder strain, and he won't be back in Atlanta's starting rotation until some point in the second half of the season after […]

Christian Encarnacion-Strand Making Start In Right Field

Cincinnati Reds prospect Christian Encarnacion-Strand is making his first start in right field on Thursday for Triple-A Louisville as he adds another position along with first and third base. The added versatility will make the team's No. 7 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, even more valuable to the major-league squad whenever they decide to call him […]

Zach Neto Placed On 10-Day Injured List

The Los Angeles Angels placed rookie infielder Zach Neto (oblique) on the 10-day injured list on Thursday with a left-oblique strain. In corresponding moves, the Angels recalled infielder Andrew Velazquez from Triple-A Salt Lake and left-hander Kolton Ingram from Double-A Rocket City and optioned right-hander Jimmy Herget to Salt Lake. Neto left the game early […]

Cody Bellinger Activated, Matt Mervis Sent To Triple-A

The Chicago Cubs activated outfielder Cody Bellinger (knee) from the 10-day injured list on Thursday and optioned rookie first baseman Matt Mervis to Triple-A Iowa in a corresponding move. Bellinger is starting at first base and batting sixth on Thursday against Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander Johan Oviedo. The 27-year-old left-handed slugger missed four weeks with a […]

Mitch Garver Taking Day Off Against Angels

Texas Rangers catcher Mitch Garver is taking the day off on Thursday against the Los Angeles Angels. Garver suffered a serious knee injury just six games into the regular season in early April and didn't return to the Rangers until June 3. In eight games since his return from the injured list, he's hit .300 […]

Ezequiel Duran Taking Day Off Thursday

Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Ezequiel Duran is not in the team's starting lineup on Thursday against the division-rival Los Angeles Angels. Duran has just one hit in his last four games, so it's a good time for a breather for the 24-year-old Dominican infielder. In nine games in the month of June, he has gone 8-for-30 […]

Mauricio Dubon Heads To Bench Against Nationals

Houston Astros infielder Mauricio Dubon will start on the bench on Thursday against the Washington Nationals with shortstop Jeremy Pena (illness) returning from a three-game absence due to an illness. Dubon has been extremely useful for the Astros this year and has the ability to play both middle infield positions as well as the outfield. […]

Jeremy Pena Back In Lineup Thursday

Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (illness) is back at shortstop and is hitting sixth in the lineup on Thursday against Washington Nationals left-hander MacKenzie Gore. Pena was under the weather and missed the team's last three games, but he'll return for fantasy managers to face the Nationals on Thursday. He has recorded five hits in […]

Braves Put Jesse Chavez On 15-Day Injured List

The Atlanta Braves placed right-hander Jesse Chavez (shin) on the 15-day injured list on Thursday with a left-shin contusion and recalled right-hander Ben Heller from the minors in a corresponding move. X-rays came back negative on Chavez's shin after he was hit by a comebacker on Wednesday in the second game of a doubleheader against […]

Rangers Planning To Start Jon Gray On Sunday

The Texas Rangers are planning on having right-hander Jon Gray (finger) make his next start this Sunday against the Toronto Blue Jays. Gray was scratched from his last scheduled start on Tuesday due to a blister on his pitching hand, but manager Bruce Bochy said that Gray is doing well. Fantasy managers will be glad […]

Yoan Moncada Heading To Injured List

Chicago White Sox third baseman Yoan Moncada (back) is heading to the injured list on Thursday, and the team is recalling infielder Zach Remillard from Triple-A Charlotte in a corresponding move, according to a source. Moncada sat out the win over the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday with a back injury that has bothered him […]

Matt Olson Drops To Fifth In Batting Order

Atlanta Braves first baseman Matt Olson has been dropped to fifth in the team's batting order on Thursday against Colorado Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland. Olson has only hit second in the lineup this year, but Thursday's contest will be the first time he's hit anywhere else. The 29-year-old left-handed slugger is hitting just .228 (59-for-259) […]