Athletics outfielder Lawrence Butler is resting on Wednesday in Sacramento against the visiting Houston Astros with a left-handed pitcher on the bump. Brent Rooker is starting in right field and is hitting third, while Max Schuemann is in left field and serving as the leadoff man against Astros left-hander Framber Valdez. The 24-year-old Butler should easily be a 20-20 man for the first time in his MLB career if he stays healthy in 2025, but he's really struggling at the plate lately. He has gone 4-for-34 (.118) with a homer, RBI, steal, one walk and 13 strikeouts in 35 trips to the plate over his last eight games, so the A's will give him a break against a tough lefty. Rooker is always a power threat in Sactown, but he's also hit just .111 with a solo home run in 18 career at-bats against Valdez. Schuemann is a deep DFS sleeper in the leadoff spot who is hitting just .230 with a homer in 74 at-bats.

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A second opinion that Kansas City Royals left-hander Cole Ragans (shoulder) received on Tuesday confirmed his initial diagnosis of a left rotator-cuff strain, according to MLB.com's Anne Rogers. Ragans will be shut down from throwing for four weeks from when he initially injured his shoulder, which means he has roughly two weeks to go. The 27-year-old southpaw will be re-evaluated then to determine if he can start a throwing progression. We'll have a more clear timetable for his potential return once he's looked at again, but fantasy managers now know that we won't see him again until after the mid-July All-Star break. The former first-rounder was a first-time All-Star in 2024 and was a fantasy ace with 223 K's, making him stash-worthy in all fantasy leagues. Ragans just hasn't been right this year while dealing with injuries and has an ERA over 5.00 with 76 K's in 48 2/3 frames over 10 starts.

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The San Francisco Giants reinstated catcher Patrick Bailey (neck) from the 10-day injured list on Wednesday and optioned catcher Logan Porter to Triple-A Sacramento in a corresponding move, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Shayna Rubin. Bailey is right back in San Fran's starting lineup on Wednesday night against the visiting Cleveland Guardians and left-hander Logan Allen, doing the catching for right-hander Justin Verlander (pectoral), who is also returning from the IL, and batting in the nine-hole. The 26-year-old switch-hitting backstop is hitless in just one career at-bat against Allen. Bailey has really struggled offensively in his third year in the big leagues with the Gigantes in 2025, going 30-for-162 (.185) with just one homer, 16 RBI and 57 strikeouts in 56 games played. Fantasy managers should continue staying away until he shows signs of breaking out of his funk.

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The Astros announced that they have placed second baseman Brendan Rodgers (oblique) on the 10-day injured list with a left oblique strain, retroactive to June 15. In corresponding moves, they optioned right-hander Jason Alexander to Triple-A Sugar Land and recalled infielder Shay Whitcomb and righty Nick Hernandez. While Rodgers has gotten the majority of starts at the keystone for the Astros this year, he has ceded playing time to Mauricio Dubon as the season has progressed. Rodgers has lost his grip on a starting job thanks to a woeful .191/.266/.278 line with two home runs and 11 RBI in 128 plate appearances. The severity of Rodgers' injury is unknown, but oblique strains often lead to lengthy trips to the IL.

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The Texas Rangers are giving catcher Jonah Heim the night off Wednesday against Kansas City Royals left-hander Kris Bubic. Kyle Higashioka will start in place of Heim and bat eighth. The switch-hitting Heim, a former All-Star, has struggled offensively for the second straight season. This month has been especially poor for Heim, who has gone 5-for-32 (.156) with one homer, three RBI, and 9:1 K:BB in nine games.

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Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Bryce Harper (wrist) is "getting close" to throwing as he works back from a wrist injury, manager Rob Thomson told Lochlahn March of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Harper's range of motion and strength are improving, according to Thomson. Harper, who last played June 5, has been on the shelf with inflammation in his left wrist. He has returned to taking ground balls over the past week, and this latest update is another piece of encouraging news regarding the eight-time All-Star. However, there is still no timetable for his return. In the meantime, Otto Kemp figures to continue receiving the lion's share of playing time at first base for the Phillies.

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Texas Rangers infielder/outfielder Josh Smith (hamstring) is not in their lineup for Wednesday's game against the Kansas City Royals. It'll be the second straight day off for Smith, who's dealing with tightness in his upper left hamstring. Josh Jung will start at third base and bat sixth against Royals starter Kris Bubic. Manager Bruce Bochy said Tuesday that Smith shouldn't require a trip to the 10-day injured list, but it's a situation worth monitoring. The versatile defender has been on a tear at the plate in June, having gone 20-for-53 (.377) with three homers, eight RBI, and 13 runs scored in 13 games.

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Baltimore Orioles catcher Adley Rutschman is out of the lineup for the club's tilt with the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday. Gary Sanchez will take over behind the plate and bat sixth against right-hander Taj Bradley. Rutschman will presumably return to the lineup Thursday. He has been swinging a hot bat in June, having gone 17-for-50 (.340) with three home runs, five RBI, and nine runs scored.

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Kansas City Royals outfielder Jac Caglianone is not in the lineup for a matchup against the Texas Rangers on Wednesday. The lefty-swinging Caglianone is sitting with Rangers southpaw Patrick Corbin on the hill. Mark Canha will take his place in right field. Caglianone, whom the Royals promoted June 3, has gotten off to a slow start in the majors. The prized prospect is 10-for-51 with 12 strikeouts, one walk, and two RBI through his first 52 plate appearances as a Royal.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler (back) is not in the team's lineup against the New York Yankees on Wednesday. Soler is day-to-day with a stiff back, per Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register. Luis Rengifo will man right field in Soler's place, while Kevin Newman will take over at third base. The injury news continues a rough June for Soler, who is hitting an abysmal 5-for-42 (.119) with a 17:4 K:BB and three RBI this month.

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Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Will Smith is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the San Diego Padres. This appears to be a routine rest day for Smith who has started in each of the last two games. During that span, Smith is 5-for-8 at the plate with two doubles, one home run, and two RBI. Smith has earned himself a day off with how well he has been playing over the last few weeks. In his absence, Dalton Rushing will take over behind the plate and bat ninth versus right-hander Stephen Kolek on Wednesday.

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New York Mets catcher Francisco Alvarez is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Alvarez will get a rest day here after starting in each of the last two games. He has struggled at the plate recently, which could be part of the reason he's on the bench again. Alvarez is 1-for-13 over his last four games. In his absence, Luis Torrens will start behind the plate and bat sixth versus left-hander Chris Sale. Fantasy managers should make sure to get Alvarez out of their lineups ahead of first pitch.

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Minnesota Twins catcher Ryan Jeffers (hand) is out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Cincinnati Reds. This news isn't shocking after Jeffers was lifted from Tuesday's game after getting hit in the hand. The X-rays came back negative, so fantasy managers should consider Jeffers as day-to-day for now. The expectation is that Jeffers will sit out a few games until the swelling goes down. In the meantime, Christian Vazquez will cover behind the plate and bat ninth versus left-hander Nick Lodolo.

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New York Mets infielder Brett Baty (groin) remains out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Atlanta Braves. Baty was forced to exit early during Sunday's game due to groin tightness. The Mets had a scheduled off day on Monday, but since then Baty has missed the next two games. For now, Baty should be considered day-to-day, but could end up requiring a trip to the injured list. The Mets are currently shorthanded with Mark Vientos (hamstring) on the shelf. That being said, Ronny Mauricio will cover third base and bat ninth versus left-hander Chris Sale on Wednesday. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineup accordingly ahead of first pitch.

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Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson and first baseman Christian Encarnacion-Strand are out of the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Minnesota Twins. Stephenson will take a seat after starting in four of the last five games, in which four of them were behind the plate. Jose Trevino will take over behind the plate and bat sixth versus right-hander Bailey Ober. Spencer Steer and Santiago Espinal will cover the corner infield spots with Encarnacion-Strand getting a rest day after going 0-for-8 over his last two games. Fantasy managers should adjust their lineups accordingly with these two sitting out.

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Toronto Blue Jays outfielders Jonatan Clase (knee) and Myles Straw (ankle) are absent from the starting lineup ahead of Wednesday's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Both players were forced to exit early during Tuesday's game due to injury. Unsurprisingly, both players will sit out a day later, but are still considered day-to-day right now. The Blue Jays are also without Daulton Varsho (hamstring) right now, so they can't afford to lose anymore outfielders. In the meantime, George Springer, Davis Schneider, and Addison Barger will cover the outfield on Wednesday.

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Los Angeles Angels outfielder Jorge Soler and rookie second baseman Christian Moore will both take Wednesday's game off against the New York Yankees in the Bronx. Luis Rengifo is making the start in right field and will hit sixth, while Scott Kingery starts at the keystone and bats eighth versus Yankees left-hander Ryan Yarbrough. Soler has really struggled in his last 14 games, striking out almost 40% of the time while going 5-for-42 in the month of June. Moore, the team's top prospect per MLB Pipeline, has a triple in his first 15 MLB plate appearances while walking one and fanning five times in his first five games with the Halos. The 22-year-old has plenty of power upside, but don't expect him to hit for average. Rengifo has just one hit in 10 career at-bats against Yarbrough, while Kingery has one hit and three RBI against the lefty in four ABs.

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Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call is on the bench again on Wednesday against the visiting Colorado Rockies at Nationals Park. He'll take a seat again in favor of rookie Daylen Lile, who is starting in right field and batting seventh against Rockies right-hander German Marquez. At least for the time being, the Nationals are choosing to sit Call over Lile after recalling the prospect earlier this week from Triple-A Rochester. The 22-year-old Lile has so far struggled at the plate in his first 13 big-league games in 2025, going 7-for-39 (.179) with a homer, three doubles, a triple, three RBI, five runs and eight strikeouts in 44 plate appearances. Meanwhile, Call has slashed .276/.379/.393 with a .772 OPS in his 145 at-bats. The 30-year-old Call is the odd man out for now, but that could change quickly if Lile continues to struggle.

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Philadelphia Phillies rookie infielder Otto Kemp will take a seat on the bench for the start of Wednesday's contest against the division-rival Miami Marlins. Edmundo Sosa is starting at the hot corner and is batting eighth against Marlins right-handed pitching prospect Adam Mazur. This will be Kemp's first time sitting out since he was called up from the minors on June 7 in the wake of Bryce Harper's (wrist) placement on the injured list. The 25-year-old has been starting at third with Alec Bohm covering across the diamond at first base, and he's gone 10-for-36 (.278) with a double, four RBI, six runs scored and one stolen base. When Harper returns from the IL, it's expected that Kemp will return for more seasoning in the minors at Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Per MLB Pipeline, Kemp is ranked as the Phillies' No. 24 prospect.

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The Pittsburgh Pirates announced on Wednesday that they recalled outfield prospect Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis and placed outfielder Bryan Reynolds on the paternity list in a corresponding move. Cook, the team's No. 18 prospect per MLB Pipeline, was initially scheduled to start in center field and bat ninth against Detroit Tigers left-hander Tarik Skubal on Wednesday before the game was postponed due to inclement weather. The 26-year-old will provide the Bucs with outfield depth over the next several days with Reynolds away from the team, but after that he'll probably head back to the farm. Cook was hitting .266/.350/.329 with no homers and 10 steals in 62 games for Indy at the time of his call-up. In a 16-game cup of coffee in the majors in 2024, Cook went 11-for-49 (.224) with three homers, eight RBI and a steal.

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