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  • Has positive follow-up exam
    Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) had a follow-up exam with Reds doctors Wednesday, and he was cleared to take the next step in his rehab, Mark Sheldon of MLB.com reports.

    Advice: While that would seem to be good news for Encarnacion-Strand, who was diagnosed with a right ulnar styloid fracture May 8, he opted to get a second opinion, putting his rehab on hold for the moment. At the time of his diagnosis, Encarnacion-Strand was given a four-to-six week recovery timeline. Rotowire.com Today, 4:51 am
     
  • CES (wrist) set to resume baseball activities
    Christian Encarnacion-Strand (wrist) has been cleared to resume baseball activities.

    Advice: Encarnacion-Strand has been on the shelf since early May due to a right wrist fracture. The biggest question for fantasy managers moving forward is whether his prodigious over-the-fence power will be adversely impacted. The 24-year-old slugger is going to need several weeks to ramp back up fully prior to returning to Cincinnati, but it’s possible he’s back before next month’s All-Star break. Rotoworld Yesterday, 3:27 pm
     
  • Returns against righty
    Lowe started at first base and went 1-for-2 with a walk in Tuesday's 3-1 loss to the Tigers.

    Advice: Lowe returned to the starting lineup against a right-hander following three consecutive games on the bench against a lefty. He was eventually removed for pinch hitter Robbie Grossman in the ninth inning against a left-hander. Lowe's line against southpaws in 2024 is down from his career standard -- .619 OPS this season compared to .761 for his career -- but that's still better than the alternative. Ezequiel Duran, who started at first base while Lowe was benched, owns a .604 OPS against lefties in 2024. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 4:48 am
     
  • Goes yard again
    Burleson went 2-for-4 with a solo home run and a walk in Tuesday's 8-5 loss to the Astros.

    Advice: Burleson's gone deep in three straight games after a stretch of 12 contests without a homer. He continues to look ready for an everyday role, which has come at a convenient time with the Cardinals missing Lars Nootbaar (oblique) and Tommy Edman (wrist). Burleson is up to a .276/.308/.448 slash line with eight homers, 22 RBI, 17 runs scored, two stolen bases and six doubles over 182 plate appearances this season. Rotowire.com Tuesday, 10:07 pm
    Alec BurlesonSTL - 1B,OF
    5:15 pm vs COL
    Player Note
     
  • Nathaniel Lowe returns to lineup Tuesday vs. Tigers
    Nathaniel Lowe is back in the lineup for Tuesday’s game against the Tigers.

    Advice: Lowe is back at first base and batting fifth for the first time in three contests as he got an extended break to reset mentally. The 28-year-old slugger is batting .256 (34-for-133) with two homers and one steal in 39 games since making his season debut back in late April. Rotoworld Tuesday, 1:21 pm
     
  • Homers in back-to-back games
    Burleson went 1-for-5 with a solo home run in Monday's 7-4 loss to the Astros.

    Advice: This was Burleson's second straight game with a homer after he went 12 contests without one. The 25-year-old is up to seven homers through 51 contests in 2024, one long ball shy of matching his total from 107 games last year. He's added a reliable .271/.299/.429 slash line with 21 RBI, 16 runs scored and two stolen bases over 177 plate appearances. Rotowire.com Monday, 10:41 pm
    Alec BurlesonSTL - 1B,OF
    5:15 pm vs COL
    Player Note
     
  • Losing work against lefties
    Lowe is out of the lineup for Monday's game against the Tigers.

    Advice: Though Lowe owns a 113 wRC+ against left-handers for his career, he's struggled to maintain that level of effectiveness in those matchups so far this season. Over 55 plate appearances versus lefties in 2024, Lowe is slashing .250/.327/.292 (80 wRC+). At least for the time being, manager Bruce Bochy is seemingly viewing Lowe as a platoon player. The first baseman is on the bench for the third game in a row, with the Rangers facing lefties in each of those contests. Rotowire.com Monday, 3:06 pm
     
  • Nathaniel Lowe sits against southpaw on Monday
    Nathaniel Lowe is not in the Rangers’ starting lineup for Monday evening’s skirmish against the Tigers.

    Advice: The 28-year-old slugger will get a breather with outstanding left-hander Tarik Skubal taking the hill for the Tigers. Ezequiel Duran will start in his place at first base and will bat eighth for the Rangers on Monday night in Arlington. Rotoworld Monday, 12:54 pm
     
  • Snaps slump with homer
    Burleson went 1-for-5 with a two-run home run in Sunday's 5-4 extra-inning win over the Phillies.

    Advice: Burleson entered Sunday 0-for-17 over his last four games. He ended the drought -- his longest of the season -- with a third-inning blast to put the Cardinals ahead 4-2. Burleson has been forced into a larger role with the Cardinals lacking several starters, including Lars Nootbaar (oblique), who is expected to be out for nearly all of June. Burleson is slashing .273/.302/.418 with six homers, 20 RBI, 15 runs scored and two stolen bases over 50 contests and should have a chance to continue playing on a near-everyday basis for the foreseeable future. Rotowire.com Sunday, 8:25 pm
    Alec BurlesonSTL - 1B,OF
    5:15 pm vs COL
    Player Note