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  • Ready to resume throwing
    Freeland (elbow) will resume throwing in the first week of May, MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Freeland has been shut down since mid-April, but manager Bud Black relayed that Freeland is responding well to treatment and will begin ramping up his activity. If things go smoothly in his recovery, he could return in late May. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:49 pm
     
  • Starting regularly in left field
    Beck went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts Wednesday against the Marlins.

    Advice: Beck was added to the big-league roster Tuesday and has since made two starts in left field. He collected the first hit of his big-league career in his debut, and he should remain a regular in the lineup so long as Nolan Jones (back) is sidelined. Beck has the potential to be a power and speed producer, as he tallied five home runs and five stolen bases across 121 plate appearances with Triple-A Albuquerque prior to his promotion. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:41 pm
     
  • Appears in back-to-back games
    Grandal (foot) served as the designated hitter Tuesday and as the catcher Wednesday during a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis, MLB.com reports.

    Advice: Grandal's ability to play in back-to-back games was the original benchmark the Pirates set for his return from the injured list. However, the team has since shifted its stance and has noted that he still has some progress to make prior to being activated. Grandal should be in Pittsburgh soon, but the exact timeline remains murky. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:17 pm
     
  • Clarity coming soon
    The Pirates hope to have answers about Gonzales's (elbow) status "sooner rather than later," MLB.com reports.

    Advice: There has been very little information available about Gonzales's status since he landed on the injured list April 14. He has consulted with Dr. Neal ElAttrache, who ordered Gonzales to undergo additional testing. It appears that the results of the imaging are still unknown, but that information should eventually provide a clearer timeline for Gonzales's return to the mound. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:12 pm
     
  • Swats third homer
    Lee went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Wednesday against the Twins.

    Advice: Lee took Brock Stewart yard in the seventh inning for his third home run of the season, two of which have come in his last seven starts. He is in a nearly exactly even split for playing time behind the dish, as he's been in the lineup eight times in the White Sox's last 14 games. Overall, Lee has a 111 wRC+ and .328 wOBA across 58 plate appearances this season, and he could continue to slowly take playing time from Martin Maldonado if his strong performance continues. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 11:01 pm
     
  • Takes tough-luck loss against Cubs
    Butto (0-2) took the loss against the Cubs on Wednesday, allowing one run on four hits and two walks while striking out six batters over six innings.

    Advice: Butto pitched well in the outing, notching his third quality start of the campaign and racking up 15 swinging strikes. However, he was outshined by impressive rookie Shota Imanaga, who had another dazzling performance with seven scoreless frames. Despite the loss, Wednesday's effort should continue to keep Butto's name on the minds of fantasy managers who are looking to improve their rotation. Though the right-hander doesn't have overpowering stuff, he's impressed so far this season, posting a 2.57 ERA, 1.07 WHIP and 31:14 K:BB over 28 innings. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:46 pm
     
  • Swats first homer
    Murphy went 1-for-3 with a solo home run Wednesday in a loss to the Red Sox.

    Advice: Murphy put the Giants on the board with a 407-foot solo blast in the third inning, but the team ended up scoring just once more in the contest. The long ball was the first of the season for the backstop, who has struggled to a paltry .100/.206/.233 slash line through 35 plate appearances. Murphy is firmly behind Patrick Bailey on San Francisco's catcher depth chart. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:30 pm
     
  • Takes loss as primary pitcher
    Jefferies (0-2) took the loss against the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing four runs on five hits and two walks while striking out three batters over 2.2 innings.

    Advice: Jefferies was recalled from Triple-A Sacramento to make what was initially expected to be a spot start. The Giants instead opted to open the game with lefty Erik Miller on the mound before handing the ball to Jefferies to begin the second inning. Jefferies got out of his first frame unscathed but gave up two runs in the third and two more in the fourth to put himself in line for the loss. The 28-year-old has yielded nine earned runs across 4.2 innings over his two outings this season, and it's not clear if he'll get additional big-league opportunities (either as a traditional starter or primary pitcher) while Blake Snell (thigh) remains on the injured list. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 10:18 pm
     
  • Drops to 0-5
    Hudson (0-5) took the loss against Miami on Wednesday, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks while striking out two batters over 5.2 innings.

    Advice: It was a bit of a tough-luck loss for Hudson, as he held the Marlins scoreless until they tagged him for two runs in the fifth inning. The right-hander returned to the mound for the sixth frame and was pulled with two men on base, falling one out shy of a quality start. Despite the loss, this was one of Hudson's better starts this season -- he came in having allowed at least three earned runs in four of his five outings. The veteran hurler is not an attractive fantasy target given his 5.93 ERA and 18:17 K:BB through 30.1 innings on the campaign. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 9:59 pm