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Brandon Marsh LF | PHI
Phillies' Brandon Marsh: Idle against southpaw
Marsh is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
The lefty-hitting Marsh will bow out of the starting nine for the series finale as the Phillies face off against a lefty (Andrew Heaney) in a day game after a night game. Whit Merrifield will step in for Marsh in left field and bat eighth.
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Johan Rojas CF | PHI
Phillies' Johan Rojas: Heading to bench Wednesday
Rojas is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Rangers, Todd Zolecki of MLB.com reports.
Rojas will receive a breather in the day game after a night game, ending a stretch of five consecutive starts in center field. Cristian Pache will fill in for Rojas in the field and will bat ninth in the series finale.
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Daysbel Hernandez RP | ATL
Braves' Daysbel Hernandez: Sent down to Triple-A
Atlanta optioned Hernandez to Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Atlanta opted to keep Hernandez around for a bit after he was initially called up from Gwinnett to serve as the 27th man for Monday's doubleheader against the Padres, but he'll now head back to the minors to make room for Thursday's starter, AJ Smith-Shawver, who was called up from Triple-A in a corresponding move. Hernandez has allowed one unearned run over two relief innings with the big club this season.
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A.J. Smith-Shawver SP | ATL
Braves' AJ Smith-Shawver: Recalled ahead of Thursday's start
Atlanta recalled Smith-Shawver from Triple-A Gwinnett on Thursday.
Manager Brian Snitker previously confirmed after Wednesday's 9-2 win that Smith-Shawver would start Thursday's game against the Cubs at Wrigley Field. The young right-hander holds a 6.10 ERA and 1.52 WHIP this season with Gwinnett and has posted a 7.43 ERA and allowed six home runs over his last three starts. Given those results, fantasy managers would be wise to take a wait-and-see approach with Smith-Shawver, but the 21-year-old should have an opportunity to make additional starts for Atlanta if he pitches well Thursday.
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Mason Black RP | KC
Giants' Mason Black: Not starting Thursday
Black won't start Thursday's contest against the Pirates.
After being recalled from Triple-A Sacramento last Friday and making a three-inning start later that day, Black was slated to make his second straight turn through the rotation Thursday. He could still end up pitching in the series finale in Pittsburgh, but if he does, he'll be deployed as a bulk reliever out of the bullpen behind Erik Miller, who will open the game but will likely only cover an inning or two. Black has struggled in his three starts for the Giants this season, allowing 10 earned runs with an 8:5 K:BB over 11.2 frames.
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Patrick Bailey C | CLE
Giants' Patrick Bailey: Getting rest Thursday
Bailey is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.
Though he returned from the 7-day injured list Tuesday after recovering from a concussion, Bailey didn't rejoin the lineup until the Giants' 9-5 win Wednesday, when he started behind the dish and went 3-for-5 with a double, two runs and an RBI. Bailey should see the bulk of the starts behind the dish moving forward, but he'll cede catching duties to Curt Casali as the Giants and Pirates wrap up their series with a day game after a night game.
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Erik Miller RP | BOS
Giants' Erik Miller: Serving as opener Thursday
Miller will serve as the Giants' opening pitcher for Thursday's game in Pittsburgh, Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports.
Mason Black had been lined up to start Thursday, but he could be deployed as a bulk reliever in the series finale once Miller exits the contest. Miller has been used as an opener once previously this season, throwing a scoreless inning in Boston back on May 1.
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Marco Luciano SS | NYY
Giants' Marco Luciano: Exiting starting nine Thursday
Luciano is out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Pirates.
Luciano has taken the reins at shortstop since Nick Ahmed (wrist) landed on the 10-day injured list May 10, with the 22-year-old having started each of the last five games while going 6-for-17 with two doubles and three doubles. He'll likely still continue to see the bulk of the reps at shortstop sans Ahmed, but Luciano will give way to Brett Wisely in the series finale.
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Ben Brown RP | CHC
Cubs' Ben Brown: Drawing start Thursday
Cubs manager Craig Counsell said that Brown will start Thursday's game against Atlanta at Wrigley Field, Tim Stebbins of MLB.com reports.
Brown will pick up his fifth start of the season, filling the spot in the rotation that belonged to Kyle Hendricks before the veteran right-hander was moved to the bullpen earlier this week. Because he hasn't started since May 2 and will be pitching on three days' rest after covering two frames in relief Sunday, Brown may not be asked to give the Cubs more than three or four innings as he re-enters the rotation. Hendricks hasn't been used since his last start Friday and could be called upon to piggyback Brown, but Counsell hasn't outlined his plans for when Brown exits the contest. Brown may not be in line for a lengthy stay in the rotation, as the Cubs could get Jordan Wicks (forearm) back from the injured list next week to take over as their No. 5 starter.
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Tyler Glasnow SP | LAD
Dodgers' Tyler Glasnow: Takes second loss
Glasnow (6-2) was tagged with the loss against the Arizona on Wednesday, allowing three runs on four hits and one walk while striking out six over five innings.
Glasnow cruised through the first four innings before allowing three consecutive batters to reach base with one out in the fifth, eventually leading to three runs coming across for Arizona. He would make it through the frame but didn't return for the sixth, marking the second straight start in which he's been unable to make it through at least six innings. The right-hander is now 1-2 in May after going 5-1 in his first six decisions to open the campaign. However, he still sports a healthy 34:5 K:BB through four starts this month.