• Victor Caratini homers in loss to Twins
    Victor Caratini, starting behind the plate for Houston for the third time in four games, hit his fourth homer Sunday against the Twins.

    Advice: He nearly had a second; his 401-foot fly to right-center in the seventh would have been a homer in 20 ballparks, according to Statcast. We still like Yainer Díaz, but Caratini is certainly one of the game’s top-30 catchers and really should have landed a starting job as a free agent over the winter. He’ll probably continue to cut into Díaz’s playing time in at least the short-term, making Díaz expendable in one-catcher shallow leagues. Rotoworld Yesterday, 1:21 pm
  • Good to go Sunday
    Gurriel (illness) will start in left field and bat third Sunday against the Mets.

    Advice: The veteran outfielder was scratched from Saturday's lineup due to flu-like symptoms, but he's back in the starting nine for Sunday's series finale in Queens. Gurriel had a rough time at the plate in May and finished the month with a .213/.245/.287 slash line in 25 games. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:48 am
  • Moves down in order vs. lefty
    Friedl batted seventh and went 0-for-1 with two walks, a stolen base and a run scored in Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Cubs. He was also hit by a pitch.

    Advice: Friedl, who had batted leadoff since returning from a thumb injury Wednesday, was lowered to seventh in the order Saturday. That's due to the Reds facing a left-hander for the first time since his return. Friedl is 1-for-9 with four walks, one steal and one run scored since being activated off the injured list. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 6:29 am
     
  • Huge day against Detroit
    Valdez went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, three runs scored and three RBI in Saturday's 6-3 win over the Tigers.

    Advice: Getting the start at DH and batting fifth, Valdez tormented Matt Olson and took him deep in the second and sixth innings, adding a two-bagger in between for good measure. It was the 25-year-old infielder's first start since being called back up from Triple-A Worcester on Wednesday, but with Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) headed back to the IL after leaving Saturday's game early, the path is clear for Valdez to see regular action at second base for at least the next couple weeks, perhaps on the strong side of a platoon with Romy Gonzalez. Valdez is batting just .179 (17-for-95) in the majors this year, but he's having a breakout season in the power department, slugging four homers in 31 games for Boston and adding six in 20 games for Worcester. Rotowire.com Yesterday, 5:00 am
  • Enmanuel Valdez slugs two homers in victory
    Enmanuel Valdez went 3-for-4 with two homers, a double, three runs scored, and three RBI to lead the Red Sox to a 6-3 win over the Tigers on Saturday.

    Advice: Valdez had an outstanding day at the plate on Saturday. He led off the second inning with a solo homer off Reese Olson to put the Red Sox on the board. A double to lead off the fourth put him in position to score once again on a sacrifice fly. Valdez got to Olson once again in the sixth with a two-run blast for his first career multi-homer game. The 25-year-old second baseman was recently recalled from Triple-A for some depth after Tyler O’Neill landed on the injured list, but isn’t likely to get regular playing time to make him relevant in most leagues. He’s slashing .179/.206/.358 with four homers and 14 RBI across 103 plate appearances. Rotoworld Saturday, 3:41 pm
  • Idle versus southpaw
    Fraley isn't in the Reds' lineup for Saturday's game against the Cubs.

    Advice: With lefty starter Justin Steele set to toe the slab for Chicago, the lefty-hitting Fraley will step out of the lineup Saturday. His absence will move Tyler Stephenson into the DH role while Luke Maile starts behind the plate, batting ninth. Rotowire.com Saturday, 1:52 pm
  • Scratched Saturday
    Gurriel was scratched from Arizona's lineup ahead of Saturday's game versus the Mets.

    Advice: It isn't immediately clear why Gurriel was taken out of the lineup, but the Diamondbacks should provide more information on his status relatively soon. In the meantime, Jake McCarthy will start in left field and bat eighth. Rotowire.com Saturday, 10:45 am
  • Lourdes Gurriel Jr. scratched from Saturday’s lineup
    Lourdes Gurriel Jr. has been scratched from Saturday’s lineup.

    Advice: No word yet on the reason for the change. It’ll be Jake McCarthy taking over in left field on Saturday afternoon against the Mets at Citi Field. Rotoworld Saturday, 10:42 am
  • Josh Lowe (oblique) posts two hits Friday at AAA
    Josh Lowe (oblique) went 2-for-4 with a run scored on Friday for Triple-A Durham.

    Advice: There’s some buzz that Lowe will be ready to return to Tampa Bay early next week, but he’s going to get in at least a couple additional rehab contests this weekend for Triple-A Durham. The 26-year-old fantasy stalwart has been out since late May recovering from a mild right oblique strain. Rotoworld Saturday, 5:06 am