Player Notes

David Freese was scratched from Monday's lineup due to inflammation near his right thumb.
Advice: Freese was spiked during Sunday's game and required three stitches. He'll be available off the bench and could be ready to return to action on Tuesday. Ty Wigginton is getting the start at third base Monday.
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Michael Cuddyer (neck) expects to be activated from the disabled list on Friday when first eligible.
Advice: Cuddyer said he is feeling much better after receiving an epidural on Tuesday to relieve the stiffness and soreness in his neck. He resumed baseball activities Saturday, throwing and hitting in the cage. It's possible he'll go out on a short rehab assignment, though that's not a given.
More: Denver Post

Carlos Quentin is not in the Padres' lineup Tuesday after tweaking his knee during Monday's game.
Advice: Quentin missing games here and there due to his chronic knee issues has become routine. The good news is that he's expected to be back in there Wednesday. Chris Denorfia is getting the start in left field Tuesday.
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A.J. Pollock broke out of a slump by going 3-for-5 with two runs scored Monday against the Rockies.
Advice: Pollock went 1-for-19 last week, and he was hitting just .204 in May. He's probably getting sent down later this month when Adam Eaton comes off the DL.

Andre Ethier is out of Wednesday's lineup, in part because Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he wanted to put out his "most competitive lineup" and one that would "fight the hardest."
Advice: Ouch. Ethier is only hitting .264 with four homers and a .758 OPS this season, but it's still unusual to see him sitting against a right-hander Wily Peralta. And in favor of Scott Van Slyke, no less. Either way, Mattingly sounds like someone who is feeling the pressure of his team's struggles. This could be the beginning of the end for him in Los Angeles.
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Oswaldo Arcia is not in Thursday's lineup against the Tigers.
Advice: This will actually be his fourth straight game on the bench, but the good news is that he's completely healthy. Twins manager Ron Gardenhire said he's going with Ryan Doumit out of the DH spot Thursday because he's 4-for-10 lifetime against starter Rick Porcello. Arcia is expected to return to the lineup Friday.
More: Minnesota Twins on Twitter

Chris Stewart (groin) estimated Monday that it will be likely be a few more days before he's ready to return to the lineup.
Advice: Stewart injured his left groin on an awkward slide into third base last Thursday and hasn't played since. An MRI came back negative, so he's optimistic that he'll avoid a trip to the disabled list. Austin Romine will continue to handle the load behind the plate for now.
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Adam Jones is dealing with some right leg soreness.
Advice: Jones tweaked his leg during Monday's game. The Orioles are playing him in the designated hitter spot on Tuesday in order to protect him. As long as the ailment doesn't get worse, he should continue to play through it.
More: MLBlogs.com

Curtis Granderson went 3-for-3 with his first home run of the season, but the Yankees lost to the Orioles on Wednesday.
Advice: The home run came seven games in, and it gave him his first RBI of 2013. His third-inning double was also a first. Yankees manager Joe Girardi had Granderson batting leadoff in an attempt to get his bat going. He should move toward the middle of the order eventually.

Rickie Weeks is not in Tuesday's lineup against the Dodgers.
Advice: Just a day off for the struggling Weeks. Jeff Bianchi will start at second base and bat eighth against Zack Greinke.
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Miguel Cabrera went 4-for-4 with three home runs and five RBI in Sunday night's loss to the Rangers.
Advice: Cabrera launched a three-run homer in the third inning and a solo shot in the fifth off Derek Holland before he added a third home run late off Tanner Scheppers. The weather conditions at Arlington obviously played a factor, but it was a monster of a performance. Cabrera is currently on track to have a better season than his Triple Crown winning campaign in 2012. He has 11 home runs and leads the American League in batting average (.387), runs (34), and slugging-percentage (.659).

Shane Victorino (back) is back in the Red Sox' lineup Sunday.
Advice: Victorino sat out the last two games after his back tightened up on him, but he's ready to give it a go. He's starting in center field with Jacoby Ellsbury getting a day off.
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Indians recalled INF Cord Phelps from Triple-A Columbus.
Advice: Phelps will give the Indians some infield depth while Nick Swisher spends a few days with his wife and new baby daughter. Phelps was batting .233/.318/.431 with five homers and 19 RBI in 30 games at Triple-A.

Nationals prospect Anthony Rendon started at second base Monday night for Double-A Harrisburg.
Advice: It's interesting given Danny Espinosa's struggles, but Nationals manager Davey Johnson doesn't think Rendon is ready to play second base at the major league level yet. "We like him - we like him a lot," said Johnson. "But putting him at second at the major-league level, he's not there yet. He's not (playing second) specifically. He's just occasionally going over there." Rendon is hitting .390 (23-for-59) with four home runs and 16 RBI since his demotion earlier this month. Nothing appears imminent, but it would be a good idea to continue to monitor his progress in fantasy leagues.
More: FOX Sports

Miguel Tejada's first homer since July 16, 2011 was a three-run shot off the Astros' Dallas Keuchel on Monday.
Advice: Tejada has started just seven games this season, even though the Royals have gotten terrible production at third base, second base and first base. What's the harm in giving him an expanded role for a bit? For what it's worth, he's gone 9-for-27 with six RBI in his limited action.