MLB Player News

Voit (knee) hit against Luis Severino (elbow) in a simulated game Thursday, Marly Rivera of ESPN.com reports.

Injuries have limited Voit to just 29 games this season, in which he's hit a disappointing .241/.328/.370. His latest absence, the result of a bone bruise and inflammation in his left knee, doesn't look as though it will keep him out much longer, though it remains unclear exactly when he'll be activated.

Bell isn't starting the second game of Thursday's doubleheader against the Phillies.

Bell will get a breather after he went hitless in three at-bats during Thursday's matinee. Ryan Zimmerman will start at first base and bat third.

Wade (lower leg) isn't starting Thursday's game against the Dodgers, Amy Gutierrez of the Giants' official site reports.

Wade suffered a bruised right lower leg Tuesday, and he'll be held out of the lineup for a second straight game. However, he appeared as a pinch hitter Wednesday and could be available off the bench once again. Darin Ruf will start at first base and bat fourth.

Through eight games since moving up to Triple-A Omaha, Pratto has gone 10-for-31 (.323) with three homers, four doubles, 12 RBI, eight runs and a 5:7 BB:K.

Pratto has posted five-RBI efforts in two of his last three games, so he's still absolutely mashing minor-league pitching. The 22-year-old is having a major breakout season after hitting .191 in High-A two years ago, but he's blocked at both first base and DH at the major-league level for now. He's also got slightly concerning platoon splits, as Pratto -- a left-handed hitter -- is batting .226 (albeit with good power) against southpaws this year. It's not a perfect prospect profile, but Pratto has enough power to make fantasy managers take notice.

Vaughn will bat fifth and play second base Thursday against the Royals.

It's certainly a fun curiosity that a player who was thought to be a defensively-limited first baseman has spent most of his rookie season in the outfield and will now start a game as a middle infielder. That said, this could well be the only game Vaughn starts at second base in his career, and he's very unlikely to pick up positional eligibility there in most fantasy formats, as the White Sox acquired Cesar Hernandez in a trade with Cleveland on Thursday. Hernandez should spend the rest of the year as the primary second baseman once he links up with his new team.

Abreu isn't starting Thursday's game against the Royals due to neck stiffness, James Fegan of The Athletic reports.

Abreu has gone 0-for-14 with a run, two walks and three strikeouts across the last four games, and he's dealing with a neck issue that will force him out of the lineup Thursday. Whether he's available off the bench remains to be seen, but Gavin Sheets will shift to first base while Brian Goodwin starts in right field.

Rizzo isn't in the lineup for Thursday's game against the Reds.

Rizzo is in the midst of a six-game hitting streak, and he's gone 8-for-22 with three home runs, a double, six runs and five RBI during that time. Patrick Wisdom will shift to first base while Matt Duffy starts at the hot corner.

O'Hearn isn't in the lineup Thursday against the White Sox.

O'Hearn started the last two games and went 2-for-5 with an RBI and two strikeouts, but he'll head back to the bench with left-hander Carlos Rodon starting Thursday. Jorge Soler will shift to right field while Salvador Perez serves as the designated hitter.

Hoskins will sit for the first half of Thursday's doubleheader against the Nationals.

The Phillies will likely give many of their regulars a rest in one of Thursday's two games. Hoskins sits in favor of Brad Miller in the first contest, but he'll presumably return to the lineup for the nightcap.

Dalbec will start Thursday's series finale against the Blue Jays, Chris Cotillo of MassLive.com reports.

Dalbec's hitting woes continued in Wednesday's doubleheader, when he went 0-for-5 against two lefties with four strikeouts and a walk, his first since June 23. He's batting .196 (10-for-51) with just two RBI in 18 games during the month of July. With another lefty scheduled Thursday and three more southpaws on tap for the weekend series against the Rays, Dalbec should get more opportunities to get the bat going; however, the Red Sox are known to be looking for help at first base ahead of the trade deadline. That could be in the form of an everyday player or a lefty-hitting complement to Dalbec.