• Tigers won’t bench Baez
    The Tigers won’t bench shortstop Javier Baez.

    Advice: “He’s going to play, a lot,” manager A.J. Hinch said. Baez has the lowest OPS (.422) among qualified hitters by nearly 100 points. The Tigers still owe Baez $72 million after this season. Something has to give at some point, but the Tigers will keep playing him for now. Rotoworld Today, 6:34 am
     
  • Elly De La Cruz steals four bases vs. Dodgers
    Elly De La Cruz went 4-for-4 with four stolen bases on Thursday, leading the Reds to a 7-2 victory over the Dodgers.

    Advice: De La Cruz might break the century mark in the stolen base department, if he sustains this surreal pace. He was thrown out attempting a fifth steal in the seventh inning of Thursday’s showdown at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The 22-year-old burgeoning fantasy superstar is still striking out 30 percent of the time, but some improved plate discipline has enabled him to reach base more frequently this season and show off his field-tilting speed. He’s batting .277/.378/.516 with 35 runs scored, nine homers, 22 RBI and 30 steals following the first four-steal performance of his career out in Los Angeles. There’s still some room for improvement, but De La Cruz is rapidly evolving into one of the premier five-category impact contributors in the entire fantasy landscape. Rotoworld Today, 3:11 am
     
  • Keeps raking with homer
    Volpe went 2-for-5 with a solo home run during Thursday's 5-0 win over the Twins.

    Advice: Volpe extended his hit streak to nine games with a first-inning solo home run off Joe Ryan. During that stretch, Volpe has gone yard three times with 10 total RBI while logging multiple hits in four contests. After an up-and-down rookie campaign, Volpe owns a .273/.348/.432 slash line with six homers and nine stolen bases through 199 plate appearances in 2024. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 7:01 pm
     
  • Mariners unsure when J.P. Crawford will return
    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
     
  • Timeline to return unclear
    Crawford (oblique/hand) didn't travel with the team to Baltimore, Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times reports.

    Advice: Crawford was hit by a pitch in the hand during a minor-league rehab assignment Wednesday and was still sore and swollen one day later. He doesn't have a clear timeline to return, and he managed only six plate appearances with Triple-A Tacoma prior to the new injury. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 5:06 pm
     
  • Remains out Thursday
    Hoerner (hamstring) isn't in the Cubs' lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.

    Advice: Hoerner was scratched from the lineup before Tuesday's game versus Atlanta due to tightness in his left hamstring, and it will now keep him from starting for the third game in a row. Nick Madrigal will cover second base Thursday while Miles Mastrobuoni starts at shortstop. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 1:42 pm
    Nico HoernerCHC - 2B,SS
    L, 3-9 vs PIT
     
  • Nico Hoerner (hamstring) out Thursday vs. Pirates
    Nico Hoerner (hamstring) remains absent from the lineup for Thursday’s series opener against the Pirates.

    Advice: Hoerner will miss his third consecutive contest due to left hamstring tightness, but there’s been zero indication that he’s in jeopardy of requiring a trip to the injured list. There should be some clarity on his status at some point in the coming days, but fantasy managers should consider him day-to-day for now. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:40 pm
    Nico HoernerCHC - 2B,SS
    L, 3-9 vs PIT
     
  • Anthony Volpe homers, steals base in victory
    Anthony Volpe went 2-for-5 with a leadoff homer and also stole a base on Thursday, leading the Yankees to a 5-0 victory over the Twins.

    Advice: Volpe kicked off the contest with a leadoff homer against Twins starter Joe Ryan for his sixth round-tripper of the year. He also picked up his ninth stolen base of the season a couple frames later. The 23-year-old’s power output was a bit diminished at the outset of the year following offseason changes to flatten his swing and implement an all-fields approach, but he’s started to drive the ball a bit more of late with three homers in his last nine contests. Rotoworld Yesterday, 12:32 pm
     
  • Hand injury considered minor
    The Mariners aren't concerned about Crawford's (oblique) right hand/wrist after he was hit by a pitch during Wednesday's game at Triple-A Tacoma, Daniel Kramer of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Crawford's HBP forced him to make an early exit from Wednesday's minor-league game, but it appears he managed to escape the incident with no significant damage. The 29-year-old was expected to return from the IL ahead of Seattle's upcoming series versus the Orioles, though it remains unknown if those plans have changed as a result of his sore hand. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 9:09 pm