Jacob Wilson Missing Second Straight Game
Jacob Wilson (hand) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Thursday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Wilson suffered a left hand contusion when he was hit by a pitch during Tuesday's game. Now, Wilson will miss his second straight game on Thursday due to the issue. It doesn't look like the A's plan on placing Wilson on the injured list. For now, fantasy managers should consider Wilson as day-to-day and be hopeful for his return this weekend. In his absence, Max Muncy will cover shortstop and bat sixth versus right-hander Spencer Strider.Source: mlb.com
Athletics shortstop Kyle Manzardo Activated, Playing on Thursday
Kyle Manzardo (personal) has been reinstated from the family medical emergency list on Thursday. Manzardo missed the last three games while tending to a personal matter. He'll slide right back into the lineup as he bats cleanup and plays first base against right-hander Jonathan Cannon on Thursday. He hasn't been great this season with a .217/.289/.429 slash line with 13 home runs and 33 RBI this season with the Guardians. Manzardo is really only worth a look in deep leagues at the moment. In a corresponding move, Jhonkensy Noel has been optioned to Triple-A with Manzardo returning.Source: GuardsInsider
Cleveland Guardians first baseman Tanner Houck Strikes Out Six in Rehab Start
Tanner Houck (elbow) looked good in his minor-league rehab start on Wednesday night for Triple-A Worcester, allowing an earned run on three hits while walking two and striking out six in 4 1/3 innings against Triple-A Rochester. Houck threw 47 of his 76 pitches for strikes in the outing and has now posted a 5.74 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with 15 strikeouts and six walks in 15 2/3 innings over five rehab appearances (four starts). The 29-year-old was a disaster in his nine starts for the BoSox earlier this year before going on the injured list, going 0-3 with an 8.04 ERA (6.11 FIP), 1.69 WHIP and 32:17 K:BB in 43 2/3 innings, so it's unclear if he'll rejoin Boston's starting rotation or serve in a bullpen role when he rejoins the big-league roster. Houck was a first-time All-Star in 2024 with a 3.12 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 154:48 K:BB in 30 starts, but he also led the league with 16 hit-by-pitches.Source: Milb.com
Boston Red Sox right-hander Ivan Herrera Starting Rehab Assignment on Thursday
Ivan Herrera (hamstring) will serve as the designated hitter for Triple-A Memphis on Thursday night as he starts a minor-league rehab assignment, according to The Athletic's Katie Woo. Herrera is scheduled to serve as the DH for the next four days and could return for the start of the second half of the season on July 18. Woo also adds that the Cardinals will likely limit Herrera's time behind the plate for the rest of the year. The 25-year-old has been out since late June with a strained left hamstring. Pedro Pages has been the club's primary backstop and should see regular playing time in the second half with Herrera to DH often. While Herrera is unlikely to keep up his offensive pace from before his injury -- he hit .320 (48-for-150) with eight homers and 36 RBI) -- he's certainly worth a look in two-catcher leagues if he's available.Source: The Athletic - Katie Woo
St. Louis Cardinals catcher Jesse Winker Could be Headed to Injured List
Jesse Winker (back) could be headed to the injured list after his back "locked up" on him during Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader against the Baltimore Orioles, according to manager Carlos Mendoza. Winker will head to New York for an MRI exam. Determining on the results of the testing, the 31-year-old could head back to the IL just before next week's All-Star break after just coming off the 60-day IL on Tuesday for an oblique strain. It's been that kind of season for Winker, who came into Thursday's action with a .232 average (16-for-69) with a homer and 10 RBI in just 25 games played. It sounds as though we won't see him until sometime in the second half. In the meantime, Mark Vientos could see more opportunities as the team's designated hitter.Source: MLB.com - Anthony DiComo
MLB.com's Anthony DiComo writes that it sounds like New York Mets outfielder Alex Bregman Will Return to Red Sox This Weekend
Alex Bregman (quadriceps) will play twice this weekend at Fenway Park against the division-rival Tampa Bay Rays, although manager Alex Cora wouldn't specify if it will be Friday and Sunday or Saturday and Sunday. The timing is a bit off with the All-Star break starting next Monday, but the Red Sox feel that Bregman is ready to go and want to get him back just before the end of the first half of the season. The 31-year-old will be eased back into action this weekend, but when the second half starts on July 18, he will be Boston's primary third baseman, which could push rookie Marcelo Mayer to a full-time role at second base. Fantasy managers need to be on the lookout for Bregman re-entering the starting lineup on either Friday or Saturday, and they'll also be hoping he can pick up where he left off offensively before his quad injury.Source: MLB.com - Ian Browne
Boston Red Sox third baseman Braves Won't Consider Trading Chris Sale
Chris Sale (ribs) in trade talks and will not consider moving him or any other player under control beyond the 2025 season at this year's trade deadline, major-league-sources told FanSided's Robert Murray. Although Sale is currently on the 60-day injured list with a rib-cage fracture, he's been excellent for the Braves when he's been healthy since they acquired the veteran southpaw from the Boston Red Sox. The 36-year-old lefty had a 2.38 ERA and 225 strikeouts in 2024 to win the National League Cy Young award. This year, he's been nearly as good, posting a 2.52 ERA with 114 punchouts in his 15 starts. The Braves expect Sale to return later this year, but since he's now on the 60-day IL, he cannot return until at least Aug. 20. Fantasy managers must remain patient and keep him stashed until then.Source: FanSided - Robert Murray
The Atlanta Braves have not discussed left-hander Brandon Lowe Still Out on Thursday
Brandon Lowe (side) remains out of action on Thursday at Fenway Park for the series opener against the division-rival Boston Red Sox. Taylor Walls will make another start at the keystone and will bat ninth against Red Sox right-hander Walker Buehler. Lowe will miss a fourth straight game after injuring his left side on Sunday. The Rays are hoping that the 31-year-old veteran won't have to go on the 10-day injured list, especially with the end of the first half of the season coming on Sunday. Walls is hitting .400 against Buehler in his career, but only in five career at-bats. Fantasy managers setting DFS lineups should avoid the glove-first player, especially since he's hitting at the bottom of the batting order. The 29-year-old utility infielder is hitting just .211/.281/.296 on the year with three home runs, 29 RBI, 29 runs and 11 steals.Source: MLB.com
Tampa Bay Rays second baseman Clarke Schmidt to Undergo Season-Ending Elbow Surgery on Friday
Clarke Schmidt (elbow) will have season-ending elbow surgery on Friday, according to manager Aaron Boone. We already knew that Schmidt was likely to go under the knife, but now it's official. He will miss the rest of the 2025 season, and there's also a good chance he'll miss all of 2026, too, depending on how his rehab goes and what type of procedure he has on his elbow on Friday. In the meantime, rookie Cam Schlittler will make at least one more start in place of Schmidt after picking up a win in his MLB debut on Wednesday against the Seattle Mariners, when he allowed three earned runs while walking two and striking out seven in 5 1/3 frames. Fantasy managers that still have Schmidt on their roster can safely drop him to the waiver wire in redraft leagues.Source: NJ Advance Media - Max Goodman
New York Yankees right-hander Paul Goldschmidt, Giancarlo Stanton Resting on Thursday
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Kaelen Culpepper Extends Double-A Hit Streak to Seven Games
Source: MiLB.com
Minnesota Twins infield prospect Kaelen Culpepper went 2-for-3 with a single, a double, a walk, and a run scored on Wednesday for Double-A Wichita. The Twins' fourth-ranked prospect is now riding a seven-game hit streak and has six multi-hit games in his last nine. Instead of taking time to get acclimated to Double-A pitching, the 22-year-old has hit the ground running, slashing .349/.431/.460 through 15 games for the Wind Surge. Overall, Culpepper is slashing .306/.395/.475 with 11 home runs and 18 steals in 69 games this year, and could see his prospect stock really start to rise. With an eventual move to second base, a power-hitting fantasy player with speed at the keystone could be very appealing, so he should be closely monitored in dynasty formats.Robby Snelling Headed to Triple-A Jacksonville
Robby Snelling is moving up to Triple-A Jacksonville. The Marlins' third-ranked prospect began the year at Double-A, and although he posted a 3.61 ERA and 1.22 WHIP overall (14 starts), the lefty has been much better as of late. Over his last three starts, Snelling has allowed two earned runs in 18 innings (1.00 ERA) with a 0.89 WHIP and a 22:3 K:BB. The 6-foot-3 hurler has tallied 318 strikeouts in 291 1/3 minor league innings pitched (9.82 K/9), and the Marlins could use all the rotation help they can get, but at 21 years old and with Miami beginning to fade from the playoff race, there's no need to rush him to the majors. As a result, fantasy managers may not see him debut until 2026, but he could be a worthwhile add in very deep and NL-only leagues were he to get the call.Source: Christina De Nicola
Miami Marlins pitching prospect Carter Jensen Keeps Rolling With Three Hits, Five RBI on Wednesday
Carter Jensen is on a roll, going 3-for-5 with a double, five RBI, and a run scored at Triple-A Omaha on Wednesday. That makes five multi-hit efforts in his last seven games, during which time he's gone 12-for-25 (.480) with four doubles, five home runs, 16 RBI, nine runs scored, a stolen base, and a 6:9 BB:K. The Royals' third-ranked prospect's hot hitting is what earned him a promotion to Triple-A in late June, but after some initial adversity (1-for-22 (.045), the 22-year-old has settled in nicely. At this rate, it's looking like a 2025 MLB debut is a high probability, and offensively proficient backstops are always intriguing in fantasy, so keep an eye out for any rumblings of a promotion.Source: MiLB.com
Kansas City Royals catching prospect Ryan Sloan Strikes Out Six on Wednesday
Source: MiLB.com
Seattle Mariners pitching prospect Ryan Sloan allowed one earned run on four hits and no walks (one hit-by-pitch) while striking out six in four innings of work on Wednesday at Single-A Modesto. The performance was a continuation of a strong stretch of pitching from Seattle's 2024 second-rounder, during which time he's allowed one earned run in 18 innings pitched (0.50 ERA) with a 0.78 WHIP and an 18:2 K:BB. For the season, the righty owns a 3.62 ERA, 1.21 WHIP, and a 22.5 percent K-BB%, but this recent hot stretch could earn him a few starts at High-A in the coming weeks. Armed with a 6-foot-5 frame and a high 90s fastball, he's got the makings of an impactful fantasy player, but at just 19 years old, he's still likely a few years away from the majors.Christian Walker Returns From Paternity List
Christian Walker from the paternity list and optioned infielder/outfielder Shay Whitcomb to Triple-A Sugar Land in a corresponding move. The Astros have a scheduled day off on Thursday before beginning a series on Friday against the division-rival Texas Rangers, so fantasy managers should expect Walker back this weekend to close out the first half of the season. Even though the 34-year-old veteran right-handed slugger hasn't lived up to expectations as Houston's starting first baseman in 2025 in his first year with the team, he should be returned to starting fantasy lineups on Friday. Walker has picked things up of late, going 16-for-43 (.372) with two home runs and eight RBI in his last 10 games. Hopefully he'll continue to swing the bat well going into next week's All-Star break.Source: Houston Astros
The Houston Astros announced on Thursday that they reinstated infielder