• Gets breather Thursday
    Smith isn't in the Dodgers' lineup for Thursday's game versus Cincinnati.

    Advice: After going 5-for-12 with three RBI and two runs scored during the Dodgers' last series with the Giants, Smith will get a day off during Thursday's series opener. Austin Barnes will take his place behind the dish and bat ninth. Rotowire.com Today, 3:08 pm
     
  • Taking seat Thursday
    Langeliers is not in the lineup for Thursday's game in Houston.

    Advice: It's a routine day off for Langeliers after he started each of the last four days behind the plate. Kyle McCann will do the catching for Joey Estes on Thursday. Rotowire.com Today, 1:25 pm
  • Not starting Thursday
    Nido isn't in the Mets' lineup Thursday versus Philadelphia.

    Advice: Nido will catch a breather after going 2-for-4 with an RBI during Wednesday's loss. Omar Narvaez will fill in at catcher while batting ninth. Rotowire.com Today, 11:54 am
  • Idle Thursday
    Wong isn't in the Red Sox's lineup for Thursday's game against Tampa Bay, Chris Cotillo of The Springfield Republican reports.

    Advice: Wong will take a seat for Thursday's series finale after going 3-for-11 with an RBI through the first three games against the Rays. Reese McGuire will start instead behind the plate and bat seventh. Rotowire.com Today, 11:38 am
     
  • Keibert Ruiz feels he needs “a better plan”
    According to Mark Zuckerman of MASN Sports, Keibert Ruiz is going back to the drawing board to try and break out of his slump.

    Advice: It’s been a rough start to the season for Ruiz, who missed two weeks because of a nasty case of the flu and now has put up a .393 OPS in 90 plate appearances, which among the 270 major leaguers who have taken at least 90 plate appearances so far this season, ranks dead-last in baseball. “I’ve got to sit down, relax, think a little bit better and swing at better pitches,” said Ruiz. “A better plan. And just stay with it. Don’t go out of the plan. Don’t chase for results. Just have a plan, and whatever happens, happens.” Ruiz is currently chasing pitches out of the zone less than before and making far more contact than last year. He’s also pulling the ball at the same rate and swinging and missing less, so it might not be what pitches he’s swinging at as much as it’s what he’s trying to do on those pitches. Rotoworld Today, 9:13 am
  • Closing in on rehab stint
    Murphy (oblique) will begin a rehab assignment next week, Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: The catcher has been out since Opening Day after suffering an oblique strain, and Atlanta has taken things slowly with him so far. Murphy now appears to be in the final stages of his recovery, but given the amount of time he's missed, his rehab assignment could last more than just a few days. Travis d'Arnaud will continue handling catching duties until Murphy returns, backed up by Chadwick Tromp. Rotowire.com Today, 7:34 am
     
  • Homers vs. Pittsburgh
    Sanchez went 2-for-5 with a two-run homer in Wednesday's 10-2 win over the Pirates.

    Advice: Sanchez extended Milwaukee's lead to 10-2 in the third inning with a two-run blast off Martin Perez, his sixth long ball of the year. The 31-year-old Sanchez has gotten steady playing time against left-handed pitching, either spelling William Contreras behind the plate or at DH. Sanchez has swung the bat well recently, going 8-for-26 with three homers and a 1.033 OPS over his last eight games. Overall, he's slashing .243/.317/.527 with 13 RBI and 11 runs scored through 82 plate appearances this season. Rotowire.com Today, 7:21 am
  • Resting Thursday
    Jeffers is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Yankees.

    Advice: Jeffers will get some maintenance in Thursday's day game after he caught all nine innings of the Twins' 4-0 loss Wednesday night. Christian Vazquez will check in for Jeffers behind the dish. Rotowire.com Today, 7:14 am
     
  • Three hits in Wednesday's win
    Lee went 3-for-3 with an RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's 2-0 win over the Nationals.

    Advice: The 25-year-old produced his fourth multi-hit performances in eight May contests and he continues to tighten his grip on the top spot on the White Sox depth chart. On the season, Lee has compiled a .309/.341/.494 slash line with four homers, two steals, eight runs and 10 RBI in 29 games. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:13 pm