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Thomas (knee) could start his rehab assignment next week, Mark Zuckerman of MASNSports.com reports.

Advice: Thomas has been making progress since suffering a Grade 2 MCL sprain on April 23 and could return to game action as early as next week. Assuming all goes well during his rehab assignment, Thomas could return from the injured list before the end of May. Rotowire.com Today, 1:51 pm

Suzuki is not in the lineup for Friday's contest against the Pirates.

Advice: Suzuki homered Wednesday in Atlanta but is just 6-for-26 at the dish since returning from the injured list. With Paul Skenes on the hill for the Pirates on Friday, a day off for Suzuki makes sense. Cody Bellinger will shift over to right field while Pete Crow-Armstrong handles center and Mike Tauchman serves as the designated hitter. Rotowire.com Today, 8:37 am

Steele (0-1) took the loss against the Pirates on Thursday, surrendering five runs on six hits and one walk over 5.2 innings. He struck out seven.

Advice: The Pirates tagged Steele for two runs in the top of the first on a two-run shot from Edward Olivares and proceeded to tack on runs in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings. The lefty produced only one 1-2-3 inning on the night and allowed at least five runs for the second consecutive start. Steele has yet to make it through six innings in a start this year, though he did record a season-high seven strikeouts in Thursday's loss. Rotowire.com Today, 3:43 am

J.P. Crawford (hand, oblique) didn’t travel with the Mariners for Friday’s series opener against the Orioles.

Advice: Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times adds that the Mariners aren’t certain when Crawford will return as he’s dealing with soreness and swelling in his right hand after being hit by a pitch during Wednesday’s rehab contest for Triple-A Tacoma. The 29-year-old shortstop will presumably undergo additional testing and imaging to determine the extent of the injury. There should be an update on his status at some point in the next few days. Rotoworld Yesterday, 6:43 pm

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 Yesterday, 9:13 am