MLB Player News

Wagaman’s solo shot to straightaway center field came off Reds southpaw Nick Lodolo to give the Marlins a commanding three-run lead in the fifth inning. He also singled and stole a base in the seventh inning, just for good measure, to complete the combo meal performance. The unheralded 27-year-old is hitting .277 (18-for-65) with three homers, seven RBI and one steal through 18 games in his Marlins debut.

Walls was back at shortstop and hitting ninth after missing a pair of contests earlier this week for precautionary reasons due to left hamstring tightness.

Neto returned to the leadoff spot and picked up a pair of thefts after missing three games earlier this week as a result of whiplash symptoms stemming from a home-plate collision last weekend. The 25-year-old shortstop’s absence was out of an abundance of caution and he passed concussion protocol earlier this week. He shouldn’t miss any additional time.

Garcia came off the bench to deliver a run-scoring ground out in the ninth inning of Friday’s contest. The 26-year-old has been held out of Kansas City’s lineup for six consecutive games with a right hamstring strain. It’s baffling why the Royals opted against putting Garcia on the injured list after he suffered the injury last weekend. It remains unclear whether he’ll return to the lineup this weekend, but the fact that he was available off the bench during Friday’s series opener seems to indicate that he’s trending in the right direction. It’s undoubtedly a frustrating situation for fantasy managers.

Nootbaar made an instant impact during his season debut, collecting a pair of hits, including an RBI double in the sixth inning of Friday’s series opener at Busch Stadium. The 28-year-old reached base safely in two of six plate appearances out of the leadoff spot following a 10-week absence at the outset of the year recovering from offseason surgery on both heels. He’ll have some fantasy appeal in deeper mixed leagues as the Cardinals primary leadoff option against right-handed pitching.

Langford finished 1-for-4 in his return from the injured list following a six-week absence recovering from a forearm strain. The 24-year-old power/speed combo threat was thrown into the leadoff spot for Friday’s series opener at Globe Life Field and should continue hitting near the top of the lineup until further notice.

Altuve made it back to Houston’s lineup less than three weeks after being diagnosed with a Grade 2 left oblique strain, which is much faster than originally anticipated. The 36-year-old second baseman figures to hit behind a red-hot Isaac Paredes in the middle of the Astros lineup for now.

Lawlar doubled, tripled and walked, reaching base safely in three of his five plate appearances out of the leadoff spot. He also played eight innings in left field during his second rehab contest. The 23-year-old former top prospect figures to need at least a few additional tune-up contests before returning to Arizona’s lineup. He’s been on the shelf since suffering a fractured right wrist back on April 3.

Muncy has made it through five contests on his rehab assignment and shouldn’t be too far off from returning to the Athletics’ lineup as their starting third baseman. The 23-year-old has been on the shelf recovering from a fractured finger since late April. He’s close to making it back.

Cubs manager Craig Counsell told reporters earlier thsi week that Shaw was likely to remain at Triple-A through the weekend to get a consistent stretch of at-bats before returning to Chicago. The 24-year-old former top prospect has been out with back tightness since May 22. There’s a path to consistent at-bats with Moisés Ballesteros stuck in an extended cold stretch at the dish.

Edman is hitting .292 (7-for-24) with two homers across seven games on his rehab assignment. It’s notable that he’s logged time at four different spots, including second and third base, along with left and center field. The 31-year-old’s versatility remains his signature calling card but he figures to spend most of his time between second base and left field once he’s back with the Dodgers.