MLB Player News

With a league-leading six thefts in just five contests to open the season, Turang has rapidly emerged as a dark horse candidate to lead the majors in stolen bases this season, with those odds increasing exponentially following Oakland’s decision to option speedster Esteury Ruiz to Triple-A earlier this week. The 24-year-old second baseman has notched three consecutive multi-hit performances and is batting .500 (7-for-14) with two runs scored and one RBI so far. Simply put, Turang should be rostered in all fantasy formats at this juncture.

He’ll replace Jalen Beeks in the bullpen for the time being. Curvelo has a 4.91 ERA in 7 1/3 innings over seven appearances with the Rangers this season. He’ll likely be riding the Round Rock-Arlington shuttle often this year.

Beeks won’t necessarily have to rehab if he keeps this stint short, the 32-year-old left-hander has a 3.81 ERA in 26 innings out of the Rangers bullpen this year, striking out 21 and walking eight while allowing six home runs.

Not good. Isbel was already placed on the 10-day injured list, but it sounds likely he will miss more than just the minimum amount of time. Kameron Misner and Lane Thomas could form a platoon in center field in Isbel’s absence.

Fantasy managers should anticipate the possibility that Lugo misses a start or is pushed back a few days after he left yesterday’s game, where he was hit in the head by a line drive off the bat of Brandon Nimmo. He also mentioned that his left elbow is sore from falling. All and all, this is a positive update considering how scary the injury looked in the moment.

It’s cost him two days now. Sterlin Thompson is starting in left field against RHP Edward Cabrera and the Cubs in McCarthy’s place today.

The ironman sat out both games over the weekend with a minor thumb injury and will get a blow on Thursday after catching last night. It appears he’s still being handled cautiously. Carter Jensen is playing catcher and Lane Thomas has taken over in the 5-hole for Perez in a rare start against a right-hander in Rangers starter Kumar Rocker.

He had played four days in a row before sitting here, so this is probably just some load management for a player that we know is dealing with an injury. Nick Loftin is playing third base and batting eighth in Garcia’s stead.

Since being activated from the IL on June 1, Smith has started against righties and been a bench bat otherwise. It hasn’t gone well yet — he’s hitting .120/.281/.120 in his first 32 plate appearances. Gabriel Moreno is grabbing a DH game after catching last night in Smith’s place.

He had been working in the Rookie-level FCL over the past few weeks, so this qualifies as good news for Waldrep’s chances of getting back to the big leagues in short order. Waldrep had loose bodies removed from his elbow in spring training. He might be able to get back to the big leagues before the end of June if everything goes right.

Whitcomb homered in a spot start for Jeremy Peña on Wednesday, but heads back to Triple-A. It appears the Astros are set to activate someone else tomorrow.