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  • May not return this weekend
    Rangers manager Bruce Bochy said Wednesday that Lowe will need "about 30 [at-bats], could be more" during his minor-league rehab assignment before returning from the 10-day injured list, Shawn McFarland of The Dallas Morning News reports.

    Advice: After kicking off his rehab assignment at Double-A Frisco last Friday, Lowe looked as though he could be ready to rejoin the Rangers by the weekend. However, Bochy's comments suggest that the Rangers are planning for Lowe to have a more extended stay in the minors to get his timing back at the plate before reinstalling him as their everyday first baseman. Lowe has since shifted his assignment to Triple-A Round Rock and has gotten in 16 at-bats over five total minor-league games, recording just one hit (a home run) while drawing two walks. If Bochy sticks to his estimate of Lowe needing about 30 at-bats before being activated, the 28-year-old seems poised to remain with Round Rock through the weekend before rejoining the Rangers for the start of their homestand next Tuesday. Rotowire.com 34 minutes ago
     
  • Sitting against righty
    Walsh is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Tigers.

    Advice: The lefty-hitting Walsh will close out the series in Detroit with two consecutive absences from the lineup, though Thursday's is more noteworthy since the Tigers are bringing a right-hander (Kenta Maeda) to the hill. Walsh has been operating in a strong-side platoon role at first base all season, but he's mustered an underwhelming .638 OPS through 60 plate appearances and looks at risk of losing work to Ezequiel Duran. Rotowire.com Today, 7:37 am
    Jared WalshTEX - 1B,OF
    10:10 am @DET
    New Player Note
     
  • Getting breather Thursday
    Paredes is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Angels.

    Advice: Paredes will get his second day off of the season after starting in 18 of the Rays' first 19 contests. With Paredes on the bench Thursday, Curtis Mead will pick up a start at third base. Rotowire.com Today, 6:54 am
    Isaac ParedesTB - 1B,2B,3B
    10:10 am vs LAA
    New Player Note
     
  • Sits out due to illness
    Encarnacion-Strand did not play Wednesday due to illness, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports. Spencer Steer replaced him at first base.

    Advice: It had earlier been reported that Encarnacion-Strand was merely resting -- his first day off of the season -- but Cincinnati manager David Bell confirmed the illness. Bell didn't provide specifics on the symptoms but indicated Encarnacion-Strand wasn't feeling well in advance of the three-game series in Seattle. Rotowire.com Today, 5:28 am
     
  • Covers first base
    Steer started at first base for an unavailable Christian Encarnacion-Strand (illness) in Wednesday's 5-1 loss to Seattle. He went 0-for-3.

    Advice: Steer was one of eight Reds in the order to go hitless against Mariner pitching. Elly De La Cruz's second-inning home run off Bryce Miller was the lone offense mustered by Cincinnati. Reds manager David Bell wasn't specific on Encarnacion-Strand's symptoms but mentioned he hadn't been feeling well ahead of the series in Seattle. Steer is 1-for-14 over the last four games. Rotowire.com Today, 5:24 am
    Spencer SteerCIN - 1B,2B,3B,OF
    New Player Note
     
  • Forcing outfield rotation
    Sheets went 1-for-7 with a walk and a solo home run across both games of Wednesday's doubleheader against the Royals.

    Advice: Sheets had been serving as the White Sox's primary designated hitter in the absence of Eloy Jimenez, while also picking up some playing time at first base. With Jimenez back in the mix, Sheets started both of Wednesday's games in right field, forcing Andrew Benintendi to the bench in one contest and Robbie Grossman in the other. It will take some additional time to see how playing time sorts out in the team's outfield, particularly if Tommy Pham also reaches the big-league roster. For now, it appears that Dominic Fletcher may be the only full-time starter. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:08 pm
     
  • Cooling off
    Joe went 0-for-3 with a walk Wednesday against the Mets.

    Advice: Joe got off to an excellent start to the season, which has helped him earn more playing time than expected while splitting time between right field and first base. He's been in the lineup for six of Pittsburgh's last seven games but has now gone just 4-for-22 in that span. Joe will likely need to turn things around quickly to maintain his playing time against righties, with Edward Olivares being his primary competition for plate appearances. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:56 pm
     
  • Cranks third home run
    Bellinger went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in Wednesday's 5-3 win over the Diamondbacks.

    Advice: Bellinger is off to a bit of a slow start, with just a .200 batting average, a .667 OPS and three home runs across 18 games. However, he is now riding a modest four-game hitting streak, and perhaps Wednesday's long ball will give him another boost of momentum. Bellinger batted .307 with an .881 OPS and 26 home runs a season ago, so the upside is certainly there. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 8:15 pm
     
  • Brandon Drury held out of lineup again Wednesday
    Brandon Drury (hamstring) was held out of the Angels’ starting lineup once again on Wednesday.

    Advice: Angels’ skipper Ron Washington told reporters that Drury won’t start on Thursday either and will be limited to pinch-hitting duties, as they’re trying to protect his hamstring injury from the turf at Tropicana Field. Look for Luis Rengifo to continue to cover second base in his absence. Rotoworld Yesterday, 5:05 pm
    Brandon DruryLAA - 1B,2B
    10:10 am @TB
    New Player Note
    DTD