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  • Shane Baz promoted for 2024 debut on Friday
    Rays recalled RHP Shane Baz from Triple-A Durham.

    Advice: Finally, the 25-year-old right-hander will make his highly anticipated 2024 regular season debut on Friday evening against the Rangers. Baz made 10 starts at Triple-A Durham while building up his stamina, registering a 4.12 ERA, 1.58 WHIP and a 44/23 K/BB ratio across 39 1/3 innings of work. He’ll probably only go five innings in Friday’s start against the Rangers, so fantasy managers should temper expectations for a victory in his first start. He should deliver plenty of strikeouts though. Rotoworld 27 minutes ago
     
  • Justin Steele throws complete game for first win
    Justin Steele went the distance for his first win of 2024, pitching a two-hitting in a 5-1 game against the Angels.

    Advice: The Cubs didn’t need to turn to their shaky pen this time out, as Steele finished off the Angels in just 95 pitches. He struck out seven and walked two for his first win in 13 starts this season and 18 outings dating back to last year, when he opened up 16-3 before going 0-2 in his final four turns and perhaps costing himself a Cy Young Award. Of course, it was hardly his fault that he was 0-3 this year coming into this one. His ERA stands at 2.95 after this one. Rotoworld 48 minutes ago
     
  • Throws complete game for first win
    Steele (1-3) earned the win against the Angels on Friday, allowing one run on two hits and two walks with seven strikeouts over nine innings.

    Advice: Steele needed just 95 pitches to toss his first career complete game. The only blemish was an RBI single by Taylor Ward in the fifth, but the lefty responded by retiring 13 consecutive batters to seal his much overdue first win of the year. The 29-year-old has logged six straight quality starts and owns a 2.95 ERA, 1.00 WHIP and 77:18 K:BB over 79.1 innings this season. He lines up for a road matchup with the Orioles next week. Rotowire.com Today, 1:48 pm
     
  • Mark Vientos absent from Mets’ lineup on Friday
    Mark Vientos is absent from the Mets’ starting lineup for Friday night’s showdown against the Pirates.

    Advice: It looks to be nothing more than a routine night off for the 24-year-old slugger. Jose Iglesias will draw a rare start against a right-hander in his place. He’ll start at the hot corner and bat seventh against Paul Skenes and the Pirates on Friday evening at PNC Park. Rotoworld Today, 1:03 pm
    Mark VientosNYM - 1B,3B
    W, 9-7 @WSH
    New Player Note
     
  • Getting breather
    Vientos is out of the lineup for Friday's game against Pittsburgh.

    Advice: After making 10 consecutive starts at third base Vientos will take a seat for Friday's series opener. Jose Iglesias will bat seventh and play third base. Rotowire.com Today, 12:32 pm
    Mark VientosNYM - 1B,3B
    W, 9-7 @WSH
    New Player Note
     
  • On bench Friday
    Jeffers is out of the lineup for Friday's game against the Astros.

    Advice: Jeffers will get a breather Friday after notching three hits, including a two-run homer and an RBI double, during Thursday's win over Detroit. Christian Vazquez will catch and bat ninth against Houston. Rotowire.com Today, 11:20 am
     
  • Officially recalled for start
    The Rays recalled Baz from Triple-A Durham on Friday, Ryan Bass of Bally Sports Sun reports.

    Advice: He will start Friday in Texas against the Rangers, taking the rotation spot vacated by Aaron Civale, who was traded to the Brewers earlier this week. Baz will be making his first major-league start since July 2022, as he missed the entire 2023 season while recovering from Tommy John surgery. The young right-hander had been heating up at Durham in June, collecting a 1.57 ERA and 35:10 K:BB across 23 innings. Baz will have a good shot to remain in the Rays rotation for the rest of the season and needs to be picked up in most fantasy leagues where he's still available. Rotowire.com Today, 9:59 am
     
  • Another three-hit performance
    Witt went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBI in Thursday's loss to the Rays.

    Advice: Witt drove home Kansas City's second run of the game with a sacrifice fly in the third inning before recording a hit in each of his next three trips to the plate, including a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth. It was the star shortstop's third multi-hit performance in his last four games, and he's now tallied at least one RBI in four straight. Witt is 6-for-11 (.545) through three games to start the month of July, and his .319 average on the season puts him at second in the majors behind Steven Kwan (.367). Rotowire.com Today, 4:53 am
     
  • Shaky in win
    Eflin (5-5) picked up the win over the Royals on Thursday, allowing six runs (five earned) on seven hits and one walk over five innings while striking out three.

    Advice: Eflin didn't have his best stuff Thursday, surrendering at least one run in four of the six innings in which he appeared. Despite those struggles, the veteran right-hander was able to secure his fifth win of the season and the fourth win in his last five decisions (spanning nine starts). Eflin has now gone at least five innings in five consecutive starts, though he's given up multiple runs in four of those outings, raising his ERA to 4.19 on the season. Rotowire.com Today, 4:03 am