MLB Player News

Candelario went 2-for-3 with two walks, a home run, three RBI and a stolen base in Wednesday's win over the Dodgers.

He took Noah Syndergaard deep in the fifth inning for his seventh homer of the year, but his seventh-inning steal was his first of 2023. Candelario turned things around in a big way in the second half of May, slashing .404/.485/.737 over his last 15 games with three homers and 11 RBI, and while the 29-year-old was signed in the offseason to be something of a stopgap at third base, he's proving to be a steadying force for a young Nationals infield.

Newman is in the leadoff spot again Thursday at Boston.

Newman also batted at the top of the Reds' lineup Wednesday and went 2-for-4 with a run scored. He's slashing .323/.417/.387 in 72 plate appearances since the beginning of May and has recently become Cincinnati's preferred tablesetter versus left-handed pitching opponents. Chris Sale is on the bump for the Red Sox on Thursday.

Collier is hitting .230 with a .336 OBP, four home runs and three steals in 37 games for Single-A Daytona.

Collier, who doesn't turn 19 until November, is the fourth-youngest qualified hitter at Single-A. He hasn't put up gaudy numbers, but it's impressive that he has been better than league average (107 wRC+) while keeping the strikeouts in check (22.1 K%) in his full-season debut.

Hayes went 2-for-5 with a triple and two RBI on Wednesday against the Giants.

Hayes delivered a two-RBI triple in the third inning to snap a three-game hitless streak. Even with the productive day, he's struggled mightily across his last 15 starts by hitting only .175 with a 26.6 percent strikeout rate. He's salvaged his line in that span by driving in 10 and scoring five runs. Nevertheless, Hayes has gone from the Pirates' primary leadoff hitter to regularly batting fifth or sixth.

Castro will start at second base and bat cleanup in Wednesday's game against the Giants, Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports.

Castro will be rewarded with a fourth consecutive start after he went 2-for-3 with a run scored in Tuesday's 2-1 win. However, if Carlos Santana (spine) is back in action for the team's next game Friday in St. Louis, the Pirates may not have room in the lineup for both Castro and Connor Joe, who has also noticed an uptick in playing time while Santana has been day-to-day.

Newman will start at third base and bat leadoff in Wednesday's game against the Red Sox.

As usual, the righty-hitting Newman will find himself in the lineup versus a lefty (James Paxton), but he'll be hitting higher than fifth in the order for just the second time all season. He has been swinging a hot bat of late with four multi-hit efforts in his last five contests.

Senzel (knee) is hitting seventh and playing left field versus the Red Sox on Wednesday.

Senzel was a late scratch from Tuesday's lineup due to soreness in his right knee, but he'll rejoin the starting nine just a day later. Senzel has multiple hits in three of his last seven games and has a .775 OPS during that stretch.

Longoria went 1-for-4 with a two-run home run in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Rockies.

Longoria's first-inning home run provided all the cushion starter Zac Gallen would need. It was the veteran third baseman's seventh homer in 92 at-bats. Longoria's part-time role -- starts at 3B or DH against lefties -- puts a cap on what he can offer fantasy managers.

Muncy went 2-for-5 with a double, one RBI and two runs scored in Tuesday's 9-3 win over the Nationals.

Muncy didn't play Monday due to left hamstring tightness, but it appears he's avoided anything worse than a minor issue. He's gone 5-for-11 (.455) over his last three games with two homers, four RBI, six runs scored and two doubles in that span. The infielder should be good to resume a near-everyday role. Muncy is slashing .214/.341/.532 with 17 homers, 39 RBI, 36 runs scored, a stolen base and four doubles through 50 contests.

Reds manager David Bell told reporters after Tuesday's win over the Red Sox that Senzel (knee) should return to the lineup against Boston on Wednesday, Charlie Goldsmith of The Cincinnati Enquirer reports.

Senzel was scratched late from Tuesday's lineup against Boston with right knee soreness, but it appears it was just a precautionary measure. Fantasy GMs will want to make sure the infielder is back in the lineup against the Red Sox come Wednesday, but it does appear he's avoided a significant injury.