• Quiet in return
    Arenado went 1-for-8 over both games of Wednesday's doubleheader versus Atlanta.

    Advice: Arenado played all 18 innings Wednesday at third base in his return from a left forearm injury. He didn't make much of an impact at the plate, but it's encouraging to see the 33-year-old play both halves of the twin bill. He's down to a .254/.310/.364 slash line with six home runs, 32 RBI, 26 runs scored and one stolen base over 73 contests this year. The Cardinals have occasionally used Brandon Crawford and Brendan Donovan at the hot corner, and they could continue to be an option there if Arenado is out of the lineup or limited to designated hitter at any point in the future, as his forearm issue is believed to be a lingering one. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 7:59 pm
     
  • Swats 11th homer
    McCutchen went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Wednesday's 6-1 win over the Reds.

    Advice: His fifth-inning shot of Graham Ashcraft gave the 37-year-old designated hitter his third homer in the last 12 games, and his 11th of the campaign. McCutchen slugged only 12 home runs in 112 games last year and hasn't reached 20 long balls in a season since 2021, but it appears he still has some pop left in the tank. On the season, he's slashing .238/.338/.405 over 67 contests with 24 RBI and 42 runs. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 3:21 pm
     
  • Maikel Garcia goes 0-for-4 out of leadoff spot
    Maikel Garcia went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts on Wednesday in the Royals’ win over the Marlins.

    Advice: Yikes. Garcia’s latest hitless effort leaves him with a .174 (21-for-121) batting average with zero homers and six steals over his last 30 games. It’s fair to wonder how much longer Kansas City can afford to stick with him anywhere near the top of their lineup moving forward. Rotoworld Yesterday, 2:24 pm
     
  • Andrew McCutchen hits two-run homer to sink Reds
    Andrew McCutchen belted a two-run homer on Wednesday, lifting the Pirates to a 6-1 win over the Reds.

    Advice: McCutchen gave Pittsburgh a commanding three-run advantage, which they never relinquished, courtesy of a fifth-inning tater off Reds starter Graham Ashcraft. It was his lone hit in five at-bats in the contest, but it was a big difference-maker. McCutchen’s halcyon days as a game-changing five-category impact fantasy contributor are long in the past, but he’s more than held his own at 37 years old this season coming off last year’s major Achilles injury. He’s up to 11 homers and has also chipped in a pair of stolen bases as well. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:44 pm
     
  • Exits starting nine
    Smith is absent from the lineup for Wednesday's contest versus the White Sox.

    Advice: Smith started each of the previous three games at catcher but will begin Wednesday's contest on the bench. Austin Barnes will step in behind the plate Wednesday. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:38 pm
    Will SmithLAD - C
    W, 7-2 vs LAA
     
  • Drives in two, steals base
    Crawford went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBI, a walk, and a stolen base in Wednesday's 5-2 win against Tampa Bay.

    Advice: Crawford had an all-around showing Wednesday, reaching base three times and picking up his third stolen base of the season. The three steals are already more than he had all of last season. The 29-year-old extended his hitting streak to a season-best seven games. Since his return from the IL, he's started every game at the leadoff spot and is trending upward despite the .217/.315/.371 slash line. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 12:29 pm
    J.P. CrawfordSEA - SS
    W, 9-0 @MIA
     
  • Sitting out Wednesday
    O'Neill is out of the lineup for Wednesday's tilt against the Blue Jays.

    Advice: O'Neill went 1-for-3 with a walk and a home run in Tuesday's loss to the Blue Jays -- his 16th long ball of the season -- but he will receive a day off Wednesday. Rob Refsnyder will get a start in left field for the Red Sox, who are looking to give O'Neill periodic maintenance after he returned from the injured list earlier this month and also missed three straight games with knee inflammation. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:42 am
    Tyler O'NeillBOS - OF
    W, 4-3 @CIN
     
  • Held out again Wednesday
    Drury (illness) is out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Athletics.

    Advice: Drury hasn't played in more than a week due to an upper-respiratory virus. The Angels have resisted placing him on the 10-day injured list thus far, and the team hasn't provided an indication that it has changed its stance, so consider Drury day-to-day. Luis Rengifo will cover second base Wednesday in Drury's stead. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:39 am
    Brandon DruryLAA - 1B,2B
    L, 2-7 @LAD
     
  • Swats homer Tuesday
    Soto went 1-for-3 with a solo home run, an additional run and two walks in Tuesday's loss to the Mets.

    Advice: Soto plated the Yankees' first run with his solo shot in the fifth inning, though the Mets had already built a big lead by that time. The long ball was the first extra-base hit over the outfielder's past eight games, and he's batted an uncharacteristically poor .160 (4-for-25) during that stretch. Soto has continued to reach base consistently, however, due to his willingness to take a walk -- across the eight-game span, he's accumulated an 11:6 BB:K, and he leads the league with 65 total walks on the season. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:00 am
    Juan SotoNYY - OF
    W, 8-3 vs ATL