• Checkup coming soon
    McLain (shoulder) is about a week away from a follow-up appointment that will give the Reds a better idea on his timetable, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

    Advice: If all goes well with his exam, McLain could start working out at the Reds' spring training facility in Arizona. He doesn't have an official return date yet. "It's still way too early to determine a time when he would get back to us, but the goal would still be early August ideally," manager David Bell said. Rotowire.com Today, 6:43 pm
    Matt McLainCIN - 2B,SS
     
  • Could return Friday
    The Reds expect Stephenson (hand) to return Friday against the Orioles, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

    Advice: Stephenson is hitting .231/.338/.415 with three homers and 10 RBI, but his Statcast metrics (20.4% barrel rate, 93.4 mph average exit velocity) suggest better results could be forthcoming. Moreover, Stephenson has been considerably better than his backup Luke Maile, who is hitting just .163/.250/.256 so far on the season. Rotowire.com Today, 6:23 pm
  • Likely to return Friday
    Encarnacion-Strand (hand) and teammate Tyler Stephenson are expected to return Friday when the Reds host the Orioles, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

    Advice: The Reds' bats went quiet on their 2-4 road trip against the Rangers and Padres, hitting .201 as a team while averaging 10 strikeouts per game on the trip. Of course, Encarnacion-Strand has been struggling this year in both aspects, hitting .196 with a troubling 3:31 BB:K ratio in 108 plate appearances. Perhaps with better health and better weather he will come close to displaying the form he showed in 2023, when he hit .270/.328/.477 in 241 plate appearances at the big league level. Rotowire.com Today, 6:14 pm
  • Junior Caminero batting .333 at Triple-A Durham
    Junior Caminero was held out of the lineup on Thursday for Triple-A Durham.

    Advice: Caminero hasn’t been called up. According to multiple reports it’s merely a planned off day after he played in both games of Wednesday’s doubleheader. He’s been on an absolute tear with a pair of multi-homer performances in his last three contests. The 20-year-old top prospect appears to be on the precipice of returning to Tampa Bay’s lineup, likely for good, as he’s batting .333 (18-for-54) with six homers and one steal through 14 contests for Triple-A Durham. He should be rostered in all fantasy formats already. Rotoworld Today, 6:12 pm
  • Sem Robberse shines in advance of potential call up
    Cardinals RHP prospect Sem Robberse struck out six and allowed one run over six innings on Thursday for Triple-A Memphis.

    Advice: Robberse boasts a sublime 1.77 ERA and 35/7 K/BB ratio across 35 2/3 innings (six starts) for Triple-A Memphis and appears to be in line to fill the vacant spot in St. Louis’ starting rotation on Tuesday against the Mets. The unheralded 22-year-old righty doesn’t throw hard, but he’s certainly done enough to at least earn a spot start for the Cardinals with Steven Matz (back) likely to end up on the injured list. Rotoworld Today, 6:06 pm
  • Nick Pivetta throws 62 pitches in rehab start
    Nick Pivetta (elbow) struck out five and gave up four runs over three innings on Thursday in a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Worcester.

    Advice: As expected, Pivetta threw 62 pitches (36 strikes) in his rehab outing and figures to be ready to take the ball next week against the Braves, most likely on Tuesday, down at Truist Park. The 31-year-old righty has been out since early April recovering from a flexor strain in his right elbow. Rotoworld Today, 6:01 pm
    Nick PivettaBOS - SP,RP
    L, 1-3 vs SF
     
  • Kyle Harrison holds Red Sox to one in no-decision
    Kyle Harrison went five innings while allowing one run on three hits with seven strikeouts against the Red Sox on Thursday.

    Advice: It wasn’t always easy for Harrison despite the strong line. The left-hander didn’t find the strike zone on a consistent basis, as he issued five walks with 57-of-95 pitches counting for strikes. Still, the 22-year-old was able to work around those free passes thanks in large part to those aforementioned strikeouts, and he’s allowed just one run over his last two starts. Harrison will take a 3.79 ERA into a matchup with the Rockies. Just keep in mind that takes place in Colorado. Rotoworld Today, 2:16 pm
     
  • Jorge Matero homers, plates two against Yankees
    Jorge Mateo went 1-for-2 with a homer and two RBI against the Yankees on Thursday.

    Advice: Mateo took Carlos Rodón deep — one of three homers the Orioles hit against the southpaw Thursday — and he now is the proud owner of his first homer of 2024. He also drove in a run with a sacrifice fly in the fifth. Mateo needs to hit to stave off a plethora of quality prospects in Triple-A, and so far so good with a .268/.340/.488 slash across 41 at-bats. Rotoworld Today, 2:05 pm
    Jorge MateoBAL - 2B,SS
    W, 7-2 vs NYY
     
  • Could return next week
    Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Thursday that Pivetta (elbow) could rejoin the rotation next week during the team's May 7-8 series in Atlanta, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

    Advice: Pivetta is slated to make a rehab start with Triple-A Worcester on Thursday, and it appearance that will be the lone appearance before he rejoins the Red Sox' rotation. The right-hander has been on the shelf since early April with a right elbow flexor strain. Pivetta was excellent before getting hurt, allowing just one run with a 13:1 K:BB over 11 frames in his first two starts. Rotowire.com Today, 10:43 am
    Nick PivettaBOS - SP,RP
    L, 1-3 vs SF