Nick Kurtz collects two hits, two RBI in victory

Peters gets the call to Philadelphia for next week’s Midsummer Classic as a replacement for an injured Nick Kurtz (thumb). The 26-year-old hit for the cycle during Friday’s blowout win over the Athletics and has been an unexpected revelation for the upstart White Sox, slashing .303/.357/.484 with six homers and five steals in 89 games. This is his first career All-Star Game selection.

Díaz remains on track to rejoin the Dodgers’ bullpen sometime after next week’s All-Star break, with Tanner Scott continuing to handle the ninth inning until then. The 32-year-old former All-Star closer has been sidelined since early April, when he underwent arthroscopic surgery to remove loose bodies from his elbow. He got off to a rocky start during his Los Angeles debut, but his track record suggests a return to form is well within reach, but only if his health cooperates. His fastball velocity and ability to generate swinging strikes during his rehab assignment will be the key indicators that fantasy managers need to closely monitor.

Wilson gets a look atop the Athletics’ lineup with Nick Kurtz on the injured list against lefty opener Bryan Hudson after Lawrence Butler took at turn during Friday’s series opener. The 24-year-old contact-oriented shortstop should continue to get opportunities against lefties while Kurtz is on the shelf. He’s hit .286 (4-for-14) in four games since returning from the injured list earlier this week.

Trout has gone 1-for-9 with a home run and three RBI in a pair of games since returning from the injured list earlier this week. He sat out Friday’s series opener in Minnesota. The 34-year-old generational talent will make an appearance in next week’s All-Star Game in his hometown of Philadelphia, which is a fun storyline heading into the Midsummer Classic. It’s his first appearance in the game itself since 2019.

Carrillo has been cut loose after passing through waivers earlier this week. The 29-year-old made three relief appearances for the Mets last year and hasn’t pitched in the big leagues this season.

It turns out hitting for the cycle wasn’t enough to get Peters back on the lineup card to face tough rookie southpaw Gage Jump on Saturday afternoon. The 26-year-old delivered an electrifying four-hit performance during Friday’s blowout win where he tripled and homered in the same inning to complete the cycle. It’ll be Junior Perez getting the nod in center field to open the contest.

Antonacci takes a seat with Athletics rookie lefty Gage Jump toeing the rubber for Saturday’s showdown in Chicago. The 23-year-old went 1-for-5 with an RBI and his 13th stolen base of the season during Friday’s series opener. He’s emerged as the White Sox primary table-setter, slashing .288/.380/.409 with 47 runs scored, five homers and 26 RBI across 299 plate appearances over 74 games. It’ll be veteran lefty-masher Randal Grichuk in the leadoff spot to kick off Saturday’s tilt.

Orze heads back to the minors to make room for hard-throwing reliever Tommy Nance to join Minnesota’s relief mix. The 28-year-old has struggled to an underwhelming 5.66 ERA, 1.52 WHIP and 36/21 K/BB ratio across 41 1/3 innings this season.

Serven gets the nod to join the Athletics injury-ravaged roster with two games left before the All-Star break. The well-traveled 31-year-old backstop has gone 1-for-4 in the big leagues this season.

It’s another significant hit to the Athletics’ lineup, as Kurtz, who will also miss next week’s All-Star Game in Philadelphia, is likely facing a multi-week absence. His departure coincides with losing Brent Rooker to season-ending knee surgery and red-hot Zack Gelof to a knee laceration within the past two weeks. The lingering thumb issue certainly helps explain the 23-year-old on-base machine’s recent downturn at the plate as he went hitless over his final 20 at-bats and was batting .145 (8-for-55) with one home run across his last 15 games. He finishes the first half slashing .266/.405/.497 with 61 runs scored, 20 homers, 66 RBI and seven steals in 412 plate appearances across 92 games. A clearer timetable should emerge soon, but fantasy managers should be prepared for an extended absence given the nature of the injury.