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  • Moves up to No. 3 spot
    Merrill will start in center field and bat third in Thursday's game versus the Rangers.

    Advice: Merrill had one start out of the leadoff spot back in mid-April and batted fifth a couple times last month, but this will be his first-ever start from the third spot in the Padres' batting order. The rookie outfielder has earned the assignment by slashing a robust .352/.380/.727 with nine home runs, 21 RBI and two stolen bases over his last 23 games. Jake Cronenworth has typically hit third since Fernando Tatis (quad) went down and has a day off Thursday, but it wouldn't be a surprise to see Merrill receive more opportunities from the middle of the San Diego batting order. Rotowire.com Thursday, 9:04 am
     
  • Jackson Merrill hitting 3rd for Padres
    Jackson Merrill is starting in center field and batting third for the Padres on Thursday.

    Advice: This is Merrill’s first start as a three-hole hitter and it’s certainly earned after he hit .320/.346/.650 in June with nine home runs, 17 runs, 20 RBI, and two steals in 28 games. If that power holds up and he continues to hit in the middle of the order, his fantasy stock will rise dramatically. Rotoworld Thursday, 9:02 am
     
  • Two hits in debut
    Lee went 2-for-4 with an RBI in Wednesday's 9-2 loss to the Tigers.

    Advice: Lee struck out in his first major-league at-bat but bounced back with two singles, including an RBI base knock in the seventh. Lee should be in the lineup nearly every day due to Royce Lewis being shelved with an adductor strain and deserves consideration in all mixed leagues. Rotowire.com Thursday, 7:34 am
    Brooks LeeMIN - SS
    W, 9-3 vs HOU
    New Player Note
     
  • Smacks solo homer
    Schuemann went 1-for-3 with a solo home run and a walk in Wednesday's win over the Angels.

    Advice: Schuemann jumped on a hanging slider from Davis Daniel in the bottom of the fifth and sent it into the stands in left field for his fourth home run of the campaign. The shortstop has now hit safely in four of his last five games while also driving in at least one run in three of those outings. On the downside, Schuemann has also struck out twice in five of his last eight contests. Rotowire.com Thursday, 6:08 am
    Max SchuemannOAK - 2B,SS,OF
    W, 19-8 vs BAL
    New Player Note
     
  • Records 10th steal
    Merrill went 2-for-5 with one RBI and one stolen base in Wednesday's 6-4 win over the Rangers.

    Advice: Merrill stole his first base since June 9. Over the 20 games between thefts, the rookie outfielder impressed, hitting .347 with nine home runs, 19 RBI and 14 runs scored. For the season, he's at a .293/.326/.458 slash line with 12 homers, 10 steals, 43 RBI and 39 runs scored over 86 contests while taking on a near-everyday role in center field. Rotowire.com Wednesday, 11:19 pm
     
  • Max Scheumann slugs solo homer Wednesday
    Max Schuemann went 1-for-3 with a solo homer and a walk against the Angels on Wednesday.

    Advice: Schuemann gave the A’s a three-run lead with a solo homer off Davis Daniel in the fifth inning, his only hit of the game. He later drew a walk. The 27-year-old shortstop is slashing .230/.321/.333 with four homers, 27 runs scored, and six steals across 214 plate appearances. Rotoworld Wednesday, 9:03 pm
    Max SchuemannOAK - 2B,SS,OF
    W, 19-8 vs BAL
    New Player Note
     
  • Josh Smith knocks in run with a double
    Josh Smith went 1-for-4 an RBI double on Wednesday against the Padres.

    Advice: Smith’s double was the third Rangers’ run in a three-run third inning off Adam Mazur. It felt like they’d be in for a big night before being shut down by the Padres bullpen. Still, Smith will not stop hitting and he’s slotted in either second or third the Rangers’ lineup for 12 straight games. Hit smack dab in the middle of Marcus Semien, Corey Seager, Adolis García, and Wyatt Langford is a great place to accumulate runs and RBI. Rotoworld Wednesday, 8:55 pm
    Josh SmithTEX - 3B,SS,OF
    W, 4-3 vs TB
    New Player Note
    DTD
     
  • Brooks Lee has two hits, RBI in MLB debut
    Brooks Lee had a memorable MLB debut in Wednesday’s loss to the Tigers, going 2-for-4 with a pair of singles and an RBI.

    Advice: After taking a called third strike from Keider Montero in his first at-bat, Lee shot a sharp single into center field in the fourth inning for his first big-league hit. He added his first RBI in the seventh inning, plating Byron Buxton with a single to center. He’s going to play on a nightly basis with Royce Lewis (groin) shelved and deserves consideration in all mixed leagues. Rotoworld Wednesday, 7:37 pm
    Brooks LeeMIN - SS
    W, 9-3 vs HOU
    New Player Note
     
  • Oneil Cruz delivers walk-off hit to beat Cardinals
    Oneil Cruz delivered a game-winning single in the 10th inning on Wednesday, leading the Pirates to a 5-4 walk-off victory over the Cardinals.

    Advice: Cruz followed Bryan Reynolds’ game-tying single in the bottom of the 10th-inning by scalding a 106-mph line-drive to right field off Cardinals reliever JoJo Romero that sent the Pirates faithful home in walk-off fashion. The 25-year-old shortstop recorded an impressive three batted ball events in the extra-inning marathon with exit velocities over 106 mph. There have been some considerable ups and down this season for Cruz, which isn’t totally unexpected after missing nearly all of last year due to a serious leg injury, but he’s had some extremely promising moments. This certainly qualifies as a highlight-reel moment, especially if the Pirates finally wind up making it back to the postseason. Rotoworld Wednesday, 6:51 pm
    Oneil CruzPIT - SS
    L, 2-5 vs NYM
    New Player Note