Player Notes

Prince Fielder went 0-for-4 on Wednesday and is without a homer since June 4.
Advice: Fielder has been hitting for average of late, but except for a three-game surge at the beginning of the month, the power hasn't been there. He has a total of five homers and 27 RBI in 44 games since May 1 after totaling seven homers and 27 RBI in 25 games in April. Fortunately, since he's hitting behind Miguel Cabrera, he's still driving in runs with singles and doubles.

Anthony Rizzo is back in Wednesday's lineup against the Cardinals.
Advice: The struggling first baseman was given the day off Tuesday. Rizzo is batting just .157 this month and hasn't homered since May 18.
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Brett Lawrie (ankle) took grounders and some light batting practice on Wednesday afternoon.
Advice: It's a nice step in the right direction for the young third baseman, who injured his ankle on a slide on May 27. He should be cleared to run the bases in about one week. Then comes the minor league rehab assignment. The best guess right now is that he's back in early July.
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Tom Wilhelmsen gave up a game-tying homer to the first batter he faced after being brought into a one-run game in the eighth Tuesday against the Angels.
Advice: So, Wilhelmsen can't close at the moment, but he can be brought in to face Albert Pujols with the game on the line? Pujols took him deep on just his second pitch of the night. It was actually the first homer allowed by Wilhelmsen this season. After that, he came back and got five outs, though he did need Charlie Furbush to bail him out of a jam in a tie game in the ninth. Overall, it probably wasn't a showing that's going to help his chances of returning to the closer's role.

Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo said on 106.7 The Fan on Wednesday that Bryce Harper (knee) will resume baseball activities in "the next day or two."
Advice: Harper continues to make progress, as he was cleared to progress toward running following a visit to the team doctor earlier this week. While he could begin baseball activities within the next couple of days, there's no timetable for him to return to game action. The 20-year-old outfielder has been sidelined since May 26 with left knee bursitis.
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Randall Delgado yielded two runs in seven innings and struck out six Tuesday in a no-decision against the Marlins.
Advice: Delgado, who lost out on a rotation spot to Patrick Corbin this spring, was making his first start as a member of the Diamondbacks. He figures to get at least one more next week before a decision is made on his status. Since he won't be facing the Marlins again then (he could get the Reds on Sunday or the Nationals in the middle of the week), he won't be as good of a play in NL-only leagues.

Santiago Casilla (knee) will throw a bullpen session Thursday.
Advice: It will be his first since he had a cyst removed from his right knee last month. While Casilla was originally expected to be out until the second half of the season, it appears he could rejoin the Giants' bullpen prior to the All-Star break.
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Eric Young, Jr. will bat leadoff and start in center field in his Mets' debut Wednesday against the Braves.
Advice: Young was acquired from the Rockies on Tuesday night in exchange for right-hander Collin McHugh. The 28-year-old was batting just .242/.290/.352 with the Rockies this season, but he has plenty of speed and could receive regular playing time in the Mets' outfield. He's someone to keep in mind in deeper mixed formats if you need stolen bases.
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Hanley Ramirez went 4-for-4 and hit a two-run homer as the Dodgers' designated hitter in the first game of Wednesday's doubleheader.
Advice: The availability of the DH in New York this week was well timed for Hanley, who is still dealing with a balky hamstring. No word yet on whether he'll play the field, DH again or sit in the nightcap versus the Yankees.

Tigers optioned OF Avisail Garcia to Triple-A Toledo.
Advice: Garcia was up in the bigs for only a few days this time around. The 22-year-old outfielder has a .279/.315/.441 batting line in 25 major league games this season.

After having his last start skipped, Joe Blanton allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings and struck out 11 against the Mariners on Tuesday.
Advice: That's a nice Quality Start for Blanton, but he still gave up two more homers (Raul Ibanez and Justin Smoak went back-to-back in the second inning), bringing his season total to 15 surrendered in 83 1/3 innings. He has pitched effectively in four of his last five outings, but an easier schedule has had a lot to do with that.

Nick Swisher (shoulder) is expected to return to the Indians' starting lineup this Saturday.
Advice: That's contingent on a batting practice session going well on Friday. Swisher hasn't placed since last Saturday because of a sore left shoulder. He was given a cortisone injection to treat the discomfort earlier this week and is apparently feeling much better.
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Dodgers activated LHP Chris Capuano from the 15-day disabled list.
Advice: Capuano will start against the Yankees in the second half of Wednesday's doubleheader. The left-hander wound up missing a little under three weeks with a left lat strain. He has an ugly 5.45 ERA in 33 innings this year.

David Ross will visit concussion specialist Dr. Mickey Collins on Thursday in Pittsburgh.
Advice: Ross has been bothered by post-concussion symptoms since mid-May and was officially placed back on the disabled list on Tuesday night. He is out indefinitely.
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Coco Crisp is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Rangers.
Advice: No word on the reason for his absence, though he has been bothered by a heel injury recently. Chris Young is starting in center field.
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Corey Brock of MLB.com reports that the Padres have requested release waivers on James Darnell.
Advice: Darnell, who was designated for assignment last week, will be released if he isn't claimed in the next 48 hours. The 26-year-old is done for the season due to a left shoulder injury and could require another surgery.
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Nathan Eovaldi pitched six innings of two-run ball Tuesday against the Diamondbacks in his season debut.
Advice: Back from a shoulder injury, Eovaldi allowed just three hits tonight and he made it through six innings in a modest 84 pitches. That he's a Marlin really cuts into his fantasy upside -- wins will be very difficult to come by -- but he should have a little value in NL-only leagues anyway.

Brandon Crawford (fingers) is not in Wednesday's lineup against the Padres.
Advice: Not surprising, as Crawford sprained the index and middle fingers on his right hand during Tuesday's game and is dealing with some swelling. There's a chance he could return Thursday. Joaquin Arias is starting at shortstop Wednesday while Tony Abreu plays third.
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Chase Utley (oblique) will begin a minor league rehab assignment Wednesday with Double-A Reading.
Advice: Utley figures to play at least a couple of games, but he could rejoin the Phillies this weekend if all goes well. The veteran second baseman has been sidelined since May 20 with a right oblique strain.
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Chris Davis crushed his 25th and 26th home runs Wednesday as the Orioles pounded the Tigers 13-3.
Advice: Both were two-run shots; he had one off Rick Porcello in the fourth and another off Jose Valverde in the ninth. He also mixed in a ground-rule double, giving him five RBI on the day. After going eight games without an RBI earlier this month, Davis has come back with six homers and 14 RBI in his last eight games. He's also overtaken Miguel Cabrera for the AL lead in OPS.