Baltimore Orioles rookie outfielder Heston Kjerstad is not in the starting lineup on Wednesday against Los Angeles Angels left-hander Tyler Anderson. Kjerstad made his 2024 debut for the O's on Tuesday against a right-hander and went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, so he'll head to the bench on Wednesday against a lefty that has been pitching well early this year. Colton Cowser is starting in left field and is batting eighth for the Orioles against Anderson. Kjerstad, the team's No. 4 prospect per MLB Pipeline, earned the promotion to Baltimore after hitting .349/.431/.744 with a 1.176 OPS, 10 home runs and 30 RBI in the first 21 games for Triple-A Norfolk. The 25-year-old should be rostered in mixed leagues, but don't be surprised if he continues to sit against lefties given Baltimore's stacked roster.

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Los Angeles Angels manager Ron Washington said that infielder Brandon Drury (hamstring), who is out of the lineup for the third straight game on Wednesday against the Baltimore Orioles, has been feeling soreness from a left-hamstring injury he suffered last week. Washington added that Drury was left out of Wednesday's lineup as a precaution but could pinch hit, if needed. Luis Rengifo is filling in at the keystone and is hitting eighth against Orioles right-hander Dean Kremer. Fantasy managers should consider the 31-year-old Drury as day-to-day for now, but if his hamstring soreness lingers, he could eventually land on the injured list. Drury has been a non-factor offensively for the Halos so far this year, going 13-for-66 (.197) with one homer and four RBI in 19 games played.

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Baltimore Orioles first baseman Ryan Mountcastle (knee) is back at first base and is hitting third in the order for Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Angels and left-hander Tyler Anderson. Mountcastle will return to action after missing the last two games with knee soreness. The 27-year-old former 36th overall pick in 2015 has been swinging the bat well this year with a .333 average (25-for-75) with two home runs, 11 RBI and 14 runs scored in his first two games. Fantasy baseball managers need to make sure to get Mountcastle back into their lineups. He's only faced Anderson twice in his career and is hitless with one RBI. So far against southpaws in 2024, Mountcastle is 8-for-25 (.320) with a homer and three RBI.

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New York Mets right-handed pitcher Christian Scott has been excellent at the Triple-A level this season, posting a 2.76 xFIP, 14.81 K/9, and 1.74 BB/9. He has gone 3-0 over the course of four starts, including a strong performance on Tuesday that saw him strike out eight batters over 6.1 innings, allowing just two runs, one hit, and one walk along the way. His terrific start to the year has created plenty of buzz about a potential promotion to the majors, though he still has a couple of flaws in his game. Most notably, he allows plenty of loud contact, surrendering a whopping 2.61 HR/9 and a very low ground ball rate of 30.8%. There's no doubt that Scott is having a great year, but he could reach even greater heights (at Triple-A or the majors) if he cuts down on loud contact.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Masataka Yoshida is once again on the bench for Wednesday's contest against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Carlos Carrasco. The lefty-swinging outfielder hasn't started a game since April 20 as it's unclear if he is dealing with an injury or is simply in manager Alex Cora's doghouse. He did make a pinch-hitting plate appearance on Tuesday, so it appears to be the latter. The 30-year-old isn't exactly off to a terrible start, hitting .250 with two homers, 10 RBI, a tiny 13.6% K%, and a .708 OPS in 21 games, production that grades out 6% above the league average, as per his 106 wRC+. Rafael Devers is back in the lineup at designated hitter while Tyler O'Neill and Wilyer Abreu are manning the corner outfield spots.

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Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers is officially in the club's starting lineup for Wednesday's game against the Cleveland Guardians and right-hander Carlos Carrasco. It was reported on Tuesday that Devers would sit out one more game before returning as the team's designated hitter for Wednesday's contest. It's been a slow start at the plate for the 27-year-old who is hitting just .188 but his two homers, three doubles, and 15.5% BB% still has his production above the league average, as per his 105 wRC+. Devers last appeared in an April 17 game against the very same Guardians but reported knee discomfort the following day and was scratched from the starting lineup.

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Detroit Tigers right-hander Jack Flaherty will be looking for some positive regression to kick in on Wednesday in a road tilt with the Tampa Bay Rays. The 28-year-old has posted a 4.44 ERA through his first four starts in a Tigers uniform but his underlying numbers suggest he has been much better than that. Flaherty has also worked to a 2.90 xFIP, 2.74 SIERA, and a big-time 25.2% K-BB% with a 29.1% K%, as well. He has walked just 3.9% of the batters he has faced and has generated whiffs at a career-best 15.1% clip, a figure that ranks in the league's 95th percentile. He will take on a Rays team that is tied for 23rd with a .299 wOBA and 18th with a 23.1% K% against right-handed pitching on the season.

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Boston Red Sox right-hander Brayan Bello has been placed on the 15-day injured list due to right lat tightness. The club has recalled right-hander Zack Kelly to take his spot on the active roster. It's another tough injury blow to the club's starting rotation as both Garrett Whitlock and Nick Pivetta are sidelined. Additionally, slugger Triston Casas recently suffered a rib fracture, Rafael Devers hasn't played in a week since suffering a knee injury, Trevor Story is out for the season due to shoulder surgery, and Vaughn Grissom has yet to make his Red Sox debut due to a hamstring issue. Bello, the team's Opening Day starter, has worked to a quality 3.04 ERA across five starts, posting a solid 17.3% K-BB% in that time while generating ground balls at another healthy 51.3% rate.

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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Andrew McCutchen is not in the starting lineup for Wednesday's contest against the Milwaukee Brewers and right-hander Bryse Wilson. The veteran homered as part of a two-hit effort on Tuesday but will give way to Connor Joe to leadoff and man left field on Wednesday. Interestingly, McCutchen's splits lean heavily towards righties so far this season as he's hitting .295 with all three of his homers coming off of southpaws while he is just 1-for-16 (.063) with three walks in 20 plate appearances against lefties. He is seeing semi-regular playing time this season, appearing in 16 of the team's 24 games but isn't doing a ton for fantasy managers with a .233 average and 30.9% K% on the young season.

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Baltimore Orioles infielder Jackson Holliday is once again taking a seat against a left-handed starter on Wednesday as the team takes on the Los Angeles Angels and southpaw Tyler Anderson. Holliday has yet to start against same-handed pitching as the rookie gets his feet wet in the big leagues at just 20 years of age. It's been a very slow start out of the gate for the top prospect in baseball as Holliday is hitting just .059 (2-for-34) and is without an extra-base hit across his first 36 big-league plate appearances. Fantasy managers shouldn't hit the panic button yet as any investment in the 2022 first-overall pick should have been for the long haul, although it's not difficult to see the O's send him down to the minors for more seasoning if his immense struggles in the big leagues continue.

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San Francisco Giants outfielder Jung Hoo Lee is out of the starting lineup on Wednesday afternoon with New York Mets left-hander Sean Manaea toeing the rubber. The lefty-swinging outfielder has been getting regular playing time out of the leadoff spot for the club this season but will take a seat as the Giants stack right-handed bats against Manaea. It's been a solid start to the 25-year-old's big-league career as Lee is hitting .272 with two homers, two steals, and a tiny 8.7% K% across his first 103 trips to the plate. Lee had a history of elite strikeout and contact rates through a wildly successful seven-year run in the KBO. Austin Slater will handle leadoff duties as he often does against left-handed pitching. First baseman LaMonte Wade Jr. is also out on Wednesday against the lefty.

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The San Francisco Giants placed left-hander Blake Snell (groin) on the 15-day injured list on Wednesday (retroactive to April 23) with a left-adductor strain and recalled right-hander Landen Roupp from Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move. Snell was scratched from his next start on Wednesday against the New York Mets and will now miss at least the next two weeks. The 31-year-old reigning National League Cy Young winner hasn't had a good year so far in 2024 after signing with the Giants just before the start of the regular season. In his three starts so far, he's 0-3 with an 11.57 ERA, 1.97 WHIP, five walks and 12 strikeouts in 11 2/3 innings. Fantasy managers need to keep Snell stashed in an IL start everywhere, but expecting him to bounce back to his Cy Young form from a year ago after he returns may be foolish.

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Washington Nationals outfield prospect Dylan Crews (undisclosed) hasn't played for Double-A Harrisburg since last Wednesday but is fine, according to sources. Crews had a minor undisclosed issue that kept him out a few days last week but was held out of the lineup on Tuesday night as a precaution because of rainy weather. The 22-year-old is most likely dealing with a minor lower-body injury. He should be able to return to action on Wednesday. We'll keep a close eye on whether it affects his upcoming performance. So far through 10 games at Harrisburg, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, is hitting .244/.326/.415 with two home runs and two stolen bases. Crews should be stashed in all dynasty/keeper leagues and even some deeper single-year leagues.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Lane Thomas (knee), who is undergoing an MRI exam on his left knee on Wednesday, is considered very likely to land on the injured list, according to sources. As a result, rookie infielder Trey Lipscomb is in Washington on Wednesday in case the team puts Thomas on the IL. Lipscomb hit .224 in 14 games after his first big-league call-up but was optioned back to the minors on April 15 when Nick Senzel returned from his injury. Thomas was injured in Tuesday's loss to the Los Angeles Dodgers while stealing second base in the fifth inning and may have to miss at least 10 days as a result. We should know more about how long he'll be out once the results of his MRI are released. In addition to his injury, Thomas has gone just 16-for-87 (.184) at the plate this year with two home runs, but he also has 11 stolen bases for fantasy managers.

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Arizona Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said that right-hander Ryne Nelson (elbow) will throw a bullpen session at Salt River Fields on Wednesday, and it sounds like it could be close to the minimum 15 days on the injured list for him. Nelson was hit by a comebacker on his elbow and was put on the 15-day injured list last week, but he appears to be making good progress and could be ready to return when he's eligible on May 4. The 26-year-old former second-round pick in 2019 out of Oregon should have a starting rotation spot waiting for him in Arizona when he's ready. In his first four starts this year in his third major-league season, Nelson has gone 1-2 with a 4.60 ERA and 1.53 WHIP with five walks and 13 strikeouts covering 15 2/3 frames.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Alec Burleson is out of the lineup on Wednesday with the team facing left-hander Jordan Montgomery and the Arizona Cardinals. It's no surprise, as Burleson will continue to ride the pine when the Cardinals face a southpaw. With the 25-year-old out and Jordan Walker being optioned to Triple-A Memphis, Brendan Donovan is in left field and hitting leadoff, while rookie Michael Siani gets the nod in center field and will bat ninth. With Walker in the minors for a bit, Burleson's fantasy stock in deeper leagues is going up, as he should play more regularly against right-handers now. The former second-round pick in 2020 out of East Carolina is still searching for his first home run in 2024 while batting .255 (13-for-51) with two RBI and two runs scored.

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Arizona Cardinals closer Paul Sewald (oblique) is back in Arizona working with the medical team to determine whether he will need another minor-league rehab assignment or if he's ready to rejoin the D-backs. Manager Torey Lovullo said Sewald is "getting extremely close" to returning from the 15-day injured list. The 33-year-old made his first rehab appearance on Tuesday with Triple-A Reno and gave up an unearned run on two hits while walking one and striking out two, and that may be all he needs before returning to Arizona's bullpen. He has yet to pitch in the big leagues in 2024 due to a strained left oblique, but when he's back, he will operate as the team's full-time closer. Make sure he's not available for some reason on the waiver wire in your fantasy league.

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St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Jordan Walker has been optioned to Triple-A Memphis on Wednesday. The former 21st overall pick in 2020 will head to the farm after opening the 2024 campaign with a weak .155/.239/.259 slash line with no home runs, four RBI, six walks and 18 strikeouts in 67 plate appearances over 20 games for the Red Birds. The 21-year-old will surely be back in St. Louis at some point, but he's going to need to work on some things in the minors first. Brendan Donovan is in left field and hitting leadoff on Wednesday, while rookie Michael Siani is in center field and batting ninth against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery. With Walker now in the minors, Alec Burleson and Ivan Herrera could see some more playing time in the outfield moving forward.

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St. Louis Cardinals catcher Willson Contreras (hand) is back in the team's lineup on Wednesday, serving as the designated hitter and batting second against Arizona Diamondbacks left-hander Jordan Montgomery. Ivan Herrera is doing the catching and is hitting fifth. Left-hand soreness caused the Cardinals to lift Contreras from Tuesday's game early, but manager Oliver Marmol said the decision to pull Contreras had more to do with the lopsided score. Still, the 31-year-old veteran's hand issue is something to keep an eye on. It hasn't affected him at the plate so far, as he's currently hitting .292 (19-for-65) with three home runs and eight RBI in 19 games. He's gone hitless in eight career at-bats against Montgomery, but fantasy managers in single-year leagues need to get him back into their lineups.

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Chicago Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that X-rays on outfielder Cody Bellinger (rib) were negative, but the team has to see how he is on Wednesday before they can determine how long he might be out. Bellinger left Tuesday's game early with a right-rib contusion not long after he ran into the wall in center field at Wrigley Field tracking a ball down. Fantasy managers will want to check back to see if Bellinger is in the lineup against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, but most likely he will not be, and he could miss more time beyond that. For now, consider the 28-year-old lefty hitter to be day-to-day. Rookie outfielder Alexander Canario replaced Bellinger in center field on Tuesday night and could see more playing time there moving forward if Bellinger is forced to miss time.

From RotoBaller