• Swipes two bags in win
    Volpe went 1-for-5 with a run and two stolen bases Friday in an 8-1 victory versus the Red Sox.

    Advice: Volpe made the most of his fifth-inning single, as he proceeded to steal both second and third base before coming home on an Alex Verdugo double. The second-year shortstop is up to 15 thefts (on 18 attempts) this season, which is tied for 13th in the league. Volpe's power is down in comparison to his rookie campaign, but he's reduced his strikeout rate from 27.8 percent to 21.3 percent, which has helped produce a much-improved .271/.329/.414 slash line. Rotowire.com Today, 7:50 am
  • Stays hot Friday
    Merrill went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Friday's 2-1 loss to the Mets.

    Advice: The 21-year-old went yard for the third time in the last two games, accounting for all of the Padres' offense on the night with a fifth-inning shot off Sean Manaea. Merrill seems to have flipped a switch in June -- over the last nine games, he's batting .353 (12-for-34) with four doubles, three homers, two steals, five RBI, six runs and an impressive 8.3 percent strikeout rate. Rotowire.com Today, 7:40 am
     
  • Stuck in small-side platoon
    Rosario went 1-for-4 with a double and an RBI on Friday against Atlanta.

    Advice: With both Brandon Lowe and Taylor Walls back healthy, Rosario has found his playing time nearly exclusively against lefties. He's hit well in the role, maintaining a .393 average with three RBI and four runs scored across his last 10 games, but he's started only one of the Rays' last six matchups against righties. Rotowire.com Today, 7:28 am
    Amed RosarioTB - 2B,3B,SS,OF
    1:10 pm @ATL
     
  • Experiencing general tightness
    Smith was not in the starting lineup Friday due to what manager Bruce Bochy referred to as "general tightness," Kennedi Landry of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: It's the same condition that led to Smith being held out of Tuesday's starting lineup. He eventually entered Friday's game as a pinch hitter, popping out in the ninth inning. With Corey Seager not playing the field yet as he battles a hamstring, Ezequiel Duran started at shortstop. Rotowire.com Today, 6:04 am
    Josh SmithTEX - 3B,SS,OF
    4:15 pm @SEA
     
  • Lifted for pinch runner
    Seager returned to the lineup and went 0-for-3 with a walk in Friday's 3-2 loss to Seattle.

    Advice: Seager was back in the lineup as the DH after being scratched Thursday due to ongoing issues with his hamstring. The one time he did reach base Friday -- a two-out, eighth-inning walk -- he was lifted for a pinch runner. That likely means manager Bruce Bochy didn't want to risk aggravating the injury while trying to score a tying run, so the manager went with the speedier Travis Jankowski. For Seager, the walk extended his on-base streak to 30 games (.415 OBP). Rotowire.com Today, 5:58 am
  • Joey Ortiz walks three times Friday in return
    Joey Ortiz (hamstring) went 0-for-2 with an RBI and also walked three times on Friday in his return to the lineup.

    Advice: Ortiz was back at third base and batting seventh on Friday night agains the Reds following a two-game absence due to right hamstring soreness. It doesn’t sound like a serious concern moving forward for the 25-year-old infielder, who is in the midst of a true breakout season in his Brewers debut. Rotoworld Today, 4:11 am
    Joey OrtizMIL - 2B,3B
    1:10 pm vs CIN
     
  • Corey Seager hitless on Friday in return to lineup
    Corey Seager (hamstring) went 0-for-3 on Friday in his return to the lineup.

    Advice: Seager went 0-for-3 before being lifted for a pinch-runner in the late stages of Friday’s series opener against the Mariners. The Rangers have tried to be cautious with their 30-year-old superstar over the last few days as he attempts to play through a minor left hamstring issue. It wouldn’t be surprising to see him get a few extra maintenance days off moving forward in an effort to prevent the lingering issue from getting worse. Rotoworld Today, 4:07 am
  • Edouard Julien batting .171 at Triple-A St. Paul
    Edouard Julien went 2-for-4 with a walk on Friday for Triple-A St. Paul.

    Advice: Julien has struggled to a .171 (7-for-41) average with one homer in 10 games since being demoted to the minors earlier this month. The 25-year-old second baseman is going to get some extended time to iron things out in the minors and doesn’t appear close to returning to Minnesota at the moment. Rotoworld Today, 3:51 am
     
  • Goes deep in win
    Neto went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run and an additional run scored in Friday's 8-6 win over the Giants.

    Advice: The shortstop has three homers and 10 RBI over 12 contests in June, going 10-for-43 (.233) this month. Neto may not be making consistent contact, but the increased power is a positive nonetheless. He's maintained a .250/.298/.435 slash line with nine homers, 28 RBI, 26 runs scored, eight stolen base and 16 doubles through 67 contests this season. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:03 pm