• Cubs to start Hayden Wesneski on Wednesday
    The Cubs will have Hayden Wesneski start Wednesday against the Giants.

    Advice: It’ll be Hayden versus Hayden (Birdsong, the Giants’ pitcher making his MLB debut). Wesneski hasn’t thrown more than two innings since May 13, so this won’t be a particularly long start, especially if he doesn’t perform better than he has lately; he’s given up six runs and four homers over 7 1/3 innings in his last six appearances. Rotoworld Yesterday, 10:17 pm
     
  • Graham Ashcraft starting Wednesday vs. Pirates
    Graham Ashcraft will start on Wednesday against the Pirates.

    Advice: Ashcraft will get the call back to the majors to take the ball in place of Nick Lodolo, who landed on the injured list with a blister issue. The 26-year-old righty holds a lackluster 5.05 ERA, 1.46 WHIP and 49/21 K/BB ratio across 62 1/3 innings (12 starts) this season in the big leagues. Rotoworld Yesterday, 7:27 pm
     
  • Headed to majors
    The Reds will recall Ashcraft from Triple-A Louisville to start against the Pirates on Wednesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

    Advice: Ashcraft had been one of the candidates to replace Nick Lodolo (finger) in the Reds' rotation, and it now appears the spot is officially his. Ashcraft was optioned to Triple-A earlier in the month after putting up a 5.05 ERA and 1.46 WHIP in 62.1 innings over 12 starts, and he's bounced back nicely with Louisville, giving up four earned runs in 12 innings while striking out 12 batters and walking two. The 26-year-old righty will almost certainly make multiple starts during his stint with the Reds, but he'll likely be pushed back to Triple-A once Lodolo returns from the IL. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 7:25 pm
     
  • Josiah Gray sharp on Tuesday in rehab outing
    Josiah Gray (elbow) allowed one run over six innings on Tuesday in a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Rochester.

    Advice: Gray struck out four, didn’t hand out a free pass, and got up to around 90 pitches in his latest rehab outing. The 26-year-old righty should be ready to return to Washington’s starting rotation at some point later this week or early next week. He’s been on the shelf since early April due to a flexor strain in his right elbow. Rotoworld Yesterday, 5:31 pm
     
  • Roansy Contreras to start Wednesday against A’s
    Roansy Contreras will start on Wednesday against the Athletics.

    Advice: It’s a favorable matchup for streaming purposes, but Contreras is too risky to roll the dice on, with the notable exception of extremely deep mixed leagues or AL-only formats. The 24-year-old former prospect was acquired last month from the Pirates in a small trade and has fared reasonably well in nine relief appearances for Los Angeles. Angels manager Ron Washington told reporters they’re hoping to get at least four or five innings out of Contreras on Wednesday afternoon. Rotoworld Yesterday, 4:10 pm
    Roansy ContrerasLAA - SP,RP
    W, 5-2 vs OAK
     
  • Set to start Wednesday
    Contreras will start Wednesday's game against the Athletics, Sam Blum of The Athletic reports.

    Advice: The 24-year-old was acquired from the Pirates in May and has worked out of the bullpen for his first nine appearances for the Halos. Contreras has pitched to a 3.29 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 13.2 innings with Anaheim, and manager Ron Washington said the club is hoping the right-hander can cover about four or five innings versus Oakland, per Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:38 pm
    Roansy ContrerasLAA - SP,RP
    W, 5-2 vs OAK
     
  • Could take Lodolo's spot
    Ashcraft is a candidate to be called up from Triple-A Louisville to start in place of Nick Lodolo (blister), who was placed on the 15-day injured list Tuesday, Gordon Wittenmyer of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

    Advice: Ashcraft has turned in consecutive quality starts since his demotion to Louisville, yielding a total of four runs with a 12:2 K:BB over 12 innings. He's currently slated to start Wednesday for Louisville, but the Reds don't have a starter listed for that day. Lodolo isn't eligible to return until July 9, so Ashcraft would likely be needed for multiple starts if he's indeed the choice. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:49 am
     
  • Making rehab appearance Tuesday
    Gray (elbow) will make his next rehab start for Triple-A Rochester on Tuesday, Bobby Blanco of MASNSports.com reports.

    Advice: Gray is expected to work around six innings or 90 pitches Tuesday after firing five innings and 79 pitches in his last minor-league rehab start Wednesday with Double-A Harrisburg. If all goes according to plan, Gray could return from the 15-day injured list and slot back into the Washington rotation following Tuesday's outing. Rotowire.com Monday, 4:34 pm
     
  • Taking seat Monday
    Fermin is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Marlins.

    Advice: Fermin is on the bench for the second day in a row, but his playing time could be on the upswing nonetheless while he's produced a .271/.314/.500 slash line through the first three and a half weeks of June. In addition to filling in at catcher on days that top backstop Salvador Perez gets days off behind the dish, Fermin will factor into the equation at designated hitter, where he had made two of his last three starts. Rotowire.com Monday, 4:04 pm