Bryce Harper Could Play First Base Before All-Star Break

Philadelphia Phillies manager Rob Thomson isn't putting a timeline on it, but it's possible that outfielder/designated hitter Bryce Harper (elbow) plays first base before the All-Star break. Harper returned earlier than expected to designated-hitter duties for the Phillies in 2023 after having Tommy John surgery on his right elbow. The 30-year-old has been working at […]

Ben Lively Could Return Before All-Star Break

Cincinnati Reds right-hander Ben Lively (pectoral) could be back with the team to start a game before the All-Star break. Lively is dealing with a minor right-pectoral strain that landed him on the injured list last Saturday, and he appears to be progressing nicely. The 31-year-old made his return to the big leagues this year […]

Nick Lodolo To Start Rehab Program Monday

Cincinnati Reds left-hander Nick Lodolo (leg), who is rehabbing from a left-tibia stress reaction, had a positive MRI exam on Wednesday and showed improvement. He will have his walking boot removed on Monday and will report to Arizona to start a rehab program. It's nice progress for the 25-year-old southpaw, but he still has a […]

Aaron Judge Throwing Again Friday

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge (toe) did some throwing in the outfield on Friday before the team's game against the St. Cardinals for the third straight day. Judge hasn't done anything but throw this week, but it represents some progress after he announced last weekend that he's dealing with a torn ligament in his […]

Garrett Cooper Feeling Better, Back In Lineup

Miami Marlins first baseman Garrett Cooper (illness) is feeling better and is back in the starting lineup on Friday against the Atlanta Braves and right-hander Michael Soroka. Cooper is starting at first base and batting fifth in the order for the Fish. He was scratched from the team's starting lineup on Thursday while under the […]

Kevin Kiermaier Remains Out Against Red Sox

Toronto Blue Jays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier (back) remains sidelined for the team's Friday game against the visiting Boston Red Sox. There remains a possibility that Kiermaier will need to go on the injured list if he's unable to get back on the field this weekend, as he hasn't played at all this week due to […]

CJ Abrams Returns To Friday's Lineup

Washington Nationals shortstop CJ Abrams (elbow) is back at shortstop and is hitting ninth in the batting order on Friday against the Philadelphia Phillies and left-hander Cristopher Sanchez. Abrams was day-to-day this week after getting hit by a pitch on his right elbow Tuesday. He sat out of Wednesday's game but has returned on Friday […]

Jared Young Starting At First Base Again

Chicago Cubs rookie first baseman Jared Young is getting another start at first base and will bat eighth in the lineup on Friday against right-hander Cal Quantrill and the Cleveland Guardians. It will be Young's second straight start at first base and third straight start overall. The 27-year-old left-handed hitter will only be playing in […]

Diamondbacks Calling Up Dominic Fletcher

The Arizona Diamondbacks are calling up outfield prospect Dominic Fletcher from Triple-A Reno on Friday, according to sources. The team's No. 14 prospect, per MLB Pipeline, is the brother of Angels infielder David Fletcher, and the two will be facing each other on Friday evening. The 25-year-old left-handed hitter played his first 22 major-league games […]

Terry Francona Returning Friday

Cleveland Guardians manager Terry Francona is returning to the dugout on Friday for the game against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field. Francona missed the last three games after feeling light-headed on Tuesday. He underwent tests and is being advised to rest, but apparently he's feeling good enough to return to managerial duties for the […]

Tommy Pham Could Be Traded

New York Mets outfielder Tommy Pham has become the team's most productive hitter in the last month or so. Since May 18, he is hitting .324 (33-for-102) with five home runs, nine doubles, a triple, 22 RBI, seven stolen bases and 15 runs scored in 30 games played. It has crossed Pham's mind that he […]

Merrill Kelly Feeling Better

Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Merrill Kelly (calf) isn't worried about being diagnosed with his second blood clot in the last three years, but it doesn't mean he's not in a rush to get back onto the mound. Kelly had a blood clot in his right shoulder three years ago, an issue that ultimately led to […]

Seiya Suzuki To Take Batting Practice Friday

Chicago Cubs outfielder Seiya Suzuki (neck) will take batting practice on the field on Friday. Suzuki will miss his third straight game on Friday as the team takes on the Cleveland Guardians, but he's feeling good enough to take batting practice and should be able to return to the lineup before the weekend is over […]

Marcus Stroman To Start Saturday

Chicago Cubs right-hander Marcus Stroman (finger) will officially make the start on Saturday against the Cleveland Guardians. Stroman left his last start in London early on Sunday against the St. Louis Cardinals with a blister on his right index finger, but it obviously wasn't that serious of an issue. The 32-year-old had a streak of […]

Michael Soroka Recalled And Starting On Friday

The Atlanta Braves recalled right-hander Michael Soroka from Triple-A Gwinnett, and he will start on Friday in the series opener against the Miami Marlins. The Braves also selected the contract of infielder Charlie Culberson from the minors and optioned catcher Chadwick Tromp to Gwinnett. To make room on the 40-man roster, left-hander Dylan Lee (shoulder) […]

Broncos Restructure KJ Hamler's Contract

The Denver Broncos and wide receiver KJ Hamler agreed to a slightly tweaked final year of his rookie deal on Friday. Hamler's base salary of $1.583 million will stay the same, with the chance to earn $417,000 more through incentives. The Broncos also added an injury-specific Injured Reserve split, which eases the salary cap implications […]

Derek Carr Giving Juwan Johnson Drew Brees Vibes

New Orleans Saints tight end Juwan Johnson had some high praise for new quarterback Derek Carr, saying that "he's giving me a lot of Drew (Brees)." "It honestly felt like we've been working with Derek for quite a while now and so OTAs was really good, really smooth," Johnson said. "He's giving me more of […]

Nick Chubb Doesn't Think Deshaun Watson Will Hurt His Production

Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb had 12 rushing touchdowns last year, but he didn't have any once quarterback Deshaun Watson took the field in Week 13 following a suspension. "No, I'm not worried at all. I can't control what I can't control. When the ball is in my hand, I have full control, so […]

Chris Rodriguez Jr. Will Need To Prove Himself On Special Teams

The Washington Commanders had a third-round grade on rookie running back Chris Rodriguez Jr. (he went in the sixth round), according to two people familiar with their draft plans. However, to impress the coaching staff in training camp and to make the roster, Rodriguez will have to prove himself on special teams. "In Eric Bieniemy's […]

Jerry Jeudy Could Have Big Year In 2023

Denver Broncos wide receiver Jerry Jeudy, the 15th overall pick of the 2020 NFL draft, had his best season as a professional in 2022, recording a career-high 67 catches for 972 yards and six touchdowns. Jeudy did most of his damage late in the year, recording at least five catches in each of his final […]

Courtland Sutton Learning From Former Saints Receiver

Denver Broncos wide receiver Courtland Sutton has studied one of new head coach Sean Payton's most prolific receivers from his time with the New Orleans Saints in Michael Thomas, specifically from his standout season in 2019 when he caught a then-NFL-record 149 passes for 1,725 yards and nine touchdowns. "[I'm] just diving into it [to] […]

Dustin May Not Yet Throwing

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said he misspoke on Wednesday when he said that right-hander Dustin May (forearm) had started a throwing program. In fact, May hasn't started playing catch yet and is still rehabbing from a flexor-pronator-mass injury. He received a platelet-rich plasma injection six weeks ago. Hopefully, the 25-year-old hard-throwing hurler will […]

Mookie Betts Commits To Home Run Derby

Now that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts has officially been named to the National League All-Star team this year, he has formally committed to take part in this year's Home Run Derby. This will be Betts' first time participating in the event during All-Star week, which will be held in Seattle in 2023. Although […]

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. Commits To 2023 Home Run Derby

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has committed to participating in this year's Home Run Derby during All-Star week. Guerrero said he's looking forward to the event and thinks it might even help his swing for the second half of the season. The 24-year-old slugger hit 91 total home runs, including 40 in […]

Mike Yastrzemski Could Return Sunday Or Monday

San Francisco Giants outfielder Mike Yastrzemski (hamstring) is doing well in his recovery from a left-hamstring injury and could come off the injured list on Sunday or Monday. It's more likely that he'll return on Monday, given that the Giants will be in New York facing the Mets this weekend. Yaz was put on the […]

Anthony Rizzo Leaves Game Early, X-Rays Come Back Negative

New York Yankees first baseman Anthony Rizzo (elbow) left the game early on Thursday against the Oakland Athletics after getting hit by a pitch on his back elbow, but thankfully X-rays came back negative, according to manager Aaron Boone. The Yankees are calling Rizzo day-to-day, and there's a good chance he'll be out on Friday […]

Corbin Carroll Day-To-Day, D-Backs Have Minimal Concern

Updating a previous report, Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said the level of concern for outfielder Corbin Carroll (shoulder) is "minimal," and he's not currently set to undergo any testing after leaving Thursday's game early against the Tampa Bay Rays with right-shoulder soreness. It's the same shoulder that Carroll had surgery on in 2021, but […]

Taylor Stallworth Joins Panthers On One-Year Deal

Former Houston Texans defensive tackle Taylor Stallworth signed with the Carolina Panthers on Thursday on an undisclosed one-year deal, according to his agent, Brett Tessler. The sixth-year defensive tackle played for the Kansas City Chiefs and Texans last year and was with the Indianapolis Colts and new Panthers head coach prior to that. The 27-year-old […]

Ahkello Witherspoon Signs With Rams

Free-agent cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon signed an undisclosed deal with the Los Angeles Rams on Thursday, according to a source. Witherspoon is a big corner at 6-foot-2, 208 pounds, but he's been very productive in his career. In 13 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers over the last two years, he's recorded 31 solo tackles, four interceptions […]

Cam Robinson Suspended Four Games For PEDs

Jacksonville Jaguars left tackle Cam Robinson has officially been suspended for four games in 2023 for violating the NFL's policy on performance-enhancing drugs, according to a source. Word came out on a possible suspension for Robinson back in April, and now it's official. He'll miss the first four games this year against the Indianapolis Colts, […]